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Title: Vacuum-surface flashover switch with cantilever conductors

Abstract

A dielectric-wall linear accelerator is improved by a high-voltage, fast rise-time switch that includes a pair of electrodes between which are laminated alternating layers of isolated conductors and insulators. A high voltage is placed between the electrodes sufficient to stress the voltage breakdown of the insulator on command. A light trigger, such as a laser, is focused along at least one line along the edge surface of the laminated alternating layers of isolated conductors and insulators extending between the electrodes. The laser is energized to initiate a surface breakdown by a fluence of photons, thus causing the electrical switch to close very promptly. Such insulators and lasers are incorporated in a dielectric wall linear accelerator with Blumlein modules, and phasing is controlled by adjusting the length of fiber optic cables that carry the laser light to the insulator surface.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Livermore, CA
  2. Manteca, CA
  3. Dublin, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
873945
Patent Number(s):
6278239
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States Department (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05H - PLASMA TECHNIQUE
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
vacuum-surface; flashover; switch; cantilever; conductors; dielectric-wall; linear; accelerator; improved; high-voltage; fast; rise-time; pair; electrodes; laminated; alternating; layers; isolated; insulators; voltage; placed; sufficient; stress; breakdown; insulator; command; light; trigger; laser; focused; line; edge; surface; extending; energized; initiate; fluence; photons; causing; electrical; close; promptly; lasers; incorporated; dielectric; wall; blumlein; modules; phasing; controlled; adjusting; length; fiber; optic; cables; carry; laminated alternating; isolated conductors; surface breakdown; alternating layers; fiber optic; laser light; optic cable; linear accelerator; optic cables; voltage breakdown; electrical switch; wall linear; electrodes sufficient; dielectric-wall linear; edge surface; blumlein modules; rise-time switch; fast rise-time; dielectric wall; light trigger; insulators extending; insulator surface; time switch; blumlein module; /315/313/

Citation Formats

Caporaso, George J, Sampayan, Stephen E, and Kirbie, Hugh C. Vacuum-surface flashover switch with cantilever conductors. United States: N. p., 2001. Web.
Caporaso, George J, Sampayan, Stephen E, & Kirbie, Hugh C. Vacuum-surface flashover switch with cantilever conductors. United States.
Caporaso, George J, Sampayan, Stephen E, and Kirbie, Hugh C. Mon . "Vacuum-surface flashover switch with cantilever conductors". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/873945.
@article{osti_873945,
title = {Vacuum-surface flashover switch with cantilever conductors},
author = {Caporaso, George J and Sampayan, Stephen E and Kirbie, Hugh C},
abstractNote = {A dielectric-wall linear accelerator is improved by a high-voltage, fast rise-time switch that includes a pair of electrodes between which are laminated alternating layers of isolated conductors and insulators. A high voltage is placed between the electrodes sufficient to stress the voltage breakdown of the insulator on command. A light trigger, such as a laser, is focused along at least one line along the edge surface of the laminated alternating layers of isolated conductors and insulators extending between the electrodes. The laser is energized to initiate a surface breakdown by a fluence of photons, thus causing the electrical switch to close very promptly. Such insulators and lasers are incorporated in a dielectric wall linear accelerator with Blumlein modules, and phasing is controlled by adjusting the length of fiber optic cables that carry the laser light to the insulator surface.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2001},
month = {1}
}