Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

High-current railgap studies

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6262363
Characteristics of a 40-kV, 750-kA, multichannel rail gap are presented. The gap is a three electrode, field-distortion-triggered design, with a total switch inductance of less than 10 nH. At maximum ratings, the gap typically switches 10 C per shot, at 700 kA, with a jitter of less than 2 ns. Image-converter streak photographs were used to study channel evolution and current division. Transient gas-pressure measurements were made to investigate the arc generated shocks and to detect single channel failure. Channel current sharing and simultaneity are described and their effects on the switch inductance and lifetime are discussed. Lifetime tests of the rail gap were performed. Degradation in the channel current-sharing and erosion measurements are discussed.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
6262363
Report Number(s):
UCRL-88624; CONF-830621-25; ON: DE83013859
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Performance characteristics of a high-repetition rate, multichannel rail-gap switch
Journal Article · Tue Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1987 · Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6643762

Pseudospark switches -- Technological aspects and applications
Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science · OSTI ID:118944

Electrically triggered 200 kV rail-gap switch for wide aperture excimer lasers
Journal Article · Wed Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5220571