ISSN:
1089-7623
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
,
Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology
Notes:
A command triggered, high-power, surface-flashover closing switch that operates in vacuum has been developed for use on a prototype inductive-storage pulsed power generator, Pawn. This vacuum flashover switch isolates the high-pressure-gas tamped wire fuse from a second opening switch. The switch consists of an insulating ring sandwiched between electrodes. Plasma and ultraviolet light from eight small spark discharges driven by a 5 keV pulse initiate a flashover across the switch insulator. The entire triggering unit resides inside one of Pawn's metallic conductors. The switch can be triggered after holding off voltage for (approximately-equal-to)15 μs. Normally, switch closure occurs at 22–45 kV. Time to closure at a voltage of (approximately-equal-to)30 kV is (approximately-equal-to)320 ns, with a typical jitter of ±50 ns. Peak current is typically (approximately-equal-to)1 MA. Current density in the switch is approximately 25 kA/cm2. The average risetime of the fuse output current pulse can be varied by a factor of 2 by triggering the switch at different closing voltages.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1142201
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