High Power Switch Development.
Abstract
Studies on the triggering of a high-voltage, gas-insulated spark gap by an electron beam have been conducted. Measurements of the gap voltage, current, and jitter have been made for a wide range of a gap conditions and electron-beam cross-sectional areas. The character of the breakdown, for each condition, has been inferred using photograhic techniques (streak and open shutter). Current risetimes of approximately 2 ns with subnanosecond jitter have been obtained for 3 cm gaps with gap voltages as low as 50% of the self-breakdown voltage (which can be varied up to 1 MV). The observational time lag, i.e. the interval of time between the application of a voltage pulse to the electron gun and the beginning of the current rise in the gap circuit, was 50 ns. The gases used in this series of experiments were: N2, mixture of N2 and Ar, and mixture of N2 and SF6 at pressures of 1-3 atm. Open shutter photographs show that the discharge is broad in crossection. A number of papers reporting the results obtained in this program have been given at international conferences and two master theses were completed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 29, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA081870
Entities
People
- E. Kunhardt
- M . Kristiansen
Organizations
- Texas Tech University