High voltage coaxial switch

Patent · Tue Jul 19 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:864628

Rink, John P ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

A coaxial high voltage, high current switch having a solid cylindrical cold cathode coaxially surrounded by a thin hollow cylindrical inner electrode and a larger hollow cylindrical outer electrode. A high voltage trigger between the cathode and the inner electrode causes electrons to be emitted from the cathode and flow to the inner electrode preferably through a vacuum. Some of the electrons penetrate the inner electrode and cause a volumetric discharge in the gas (which may be merely air) between the inner and outer electrodes. The discharge provides a low impedance path between a high voltage charge placed on the outer electrode and a load (which may be a high power laser) coupled to the inner electrode. For high repetition rate the gas between the inner and outer electrodes may be continuously exchanged or refreshed under pressure.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Rink, John P. (Los Alamos, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 4394622
• Application Number: 06/269,457
• OSTI ID: 864628
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

voltage
coaxial
switch
current
solid
cylindrical
cold
cathode
coaxially
surrounded
hollow
inner
electrode
larger
outer
trigger
causes
electrons
emitted
flow
preferably
vacuum
penetrate
volumetric
discharge
gas
merely
air
electrodes
provides
impedance
path
charge
placed
load
power
laser
coupled
repetition
rate
continuously
exchanged
refreshed
pressure
electrode preferably
cylindrical outer
hollow cylindrical
inner electrode
cold cathode
repetition rate
power laser
outer electrodes
outer electrode
volumetric discharge
charge placed
current switch
cylindrical inner
solid cylindrical
/327/313/315/333/