An Ultra Compact Back-Lighted Thyratron
Abstract
An ultra-compact Back-Lighted Thyratron (BLT) holds the promise in high voltage (above 30 kV), high current (peak current > 10 kA) switching at high repetition rates (>1 kHz) in a small volume (100 cm3 or less). A helium-filled mini-BLT with the effective electrode volume of 15 cm3 was demonstrated to hold off 40 kV. Novel approaches enabling compact and affordable optical triggering are essential for the development of ultracompact BLTs. Photocathodes with relatively high quantum efficiencies while still sufficiently robust to survive in a BLT-relevant discharge environment were investigated. Mg was identified to be the most promising metal photocathode material compared to Cu and Mo. Besides the Schottky effect, secondary electron emission due to the formed MgO layer at the surface of the Mg foil was considered to play an important role in the photon-induced discharge initiation process, which results in improved triggering characteristics for Mg photocathodes. In addition, compact optical triggering sources based on intense ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs) were assembled for BLT triggering. Although the current version of the light source based on a single UV LED failed to trigger the BLT, approaches combining intense UV LED lamps and novel photocathodes with higher quantum yields would result in compact optical triggering for ultra-compact BLTs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 17, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA549498
Entities
People
- Chunqi Jiang
- Esin B. Sozer
Organizations
- University of Southern California