Ultrafast gas switching experiments
We describe recent experiments which studied the physics of ultrafast gas breakdown under the extreme overvoltages which occur when a high pressure gas switch is pulse charged to hundreds of kV in 1 ns or less. The highly overvolted peaking gaps produce powerful electromagnetic pulses with risetimes < 100 ps which can be used for ultrawideband radar systems, particle accelerators, laser drivers, bioelectromagnetic studies, electromagnetic effects testing, and for basic studies of gas breakdown physics. We have produced and accurately measured pulses with 50 to 100 ps risetimes to peak levels of 75 to 160 kV at pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) to 1 kHz. A unique gas switch was developed to hold off hundreds of kV with parasitic inductance less than 1 nH. An advanced diagnostic system using Fourier compensation was developed to measure single-shot risetimes below 35 ps. The complete apparatus is described and waveforms are presented. The measured data are compared with a theoretical model which predicts key features including dependence on gas species and technology to practical systems antennas and bounded wave developed a thyristor/pulse transformer based system using a highly overvolted cable switch. This pulser driving a Sandia-designed TEM cell, provides an ultra wideband impulse with < 200 ps risetime to the test object at a PRF > Khz at > 100 kV/m E field.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 10183356
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-93-0114C; CONF-930616-28; ON: DE93019071; TRN: 93:021649
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 9. IEEE pulsed power conference,Albuquerque, NM (United States),21-23 Jun 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1993]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
PLASMA SWITCHES
ELECTRICAL TESTING
BREAKDOWN
HIGH-VOLTAGE PULSE GENERATORS
PULSE RISE TIME
INDUCTANCE
SPARK GAPS
SULFUR FLUORIDES
NITROGEN
HYDROGEN
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
426000
661300
COMPONENTS
ELECTRON DEVICES AND CIRCUITS
OTHER ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE