Optically-triggered hardened thyristors for firing set circuits

Conference · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6443748

Carson, R F; Knauss, G L

Silicon thyristors, directly triggered by light, are used to switch pulsed currents in firing set circuits. They are hardened to transient ionizing radiation by the addition of a reverse-biased compensating photodiode connected to the gate of the thyristor. Tests of these compensated devices show radiation-induced switching is completely inhibited in excess of 1.4 {times} 10{sup 9} rad (Si)/sec. 2 refs., 5 figs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6443748
• Report Number(s): SAND-90-2372C; CONF-910231--2; ON: DE91000041
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426000* -- Engineering-- Components
Electron Devices & Circuits-- (1990-)
440200 -- Radiation Effects on Instrument Components
Instruments
or Electronic Systems
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
HARDENING
IONIZING RADIATIONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTODIODES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION HARDENING
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
SEMICONDUCTOR SWITCHES
SWITCHES
TESTING
THYRISTORS