Low Pressure Spark Gap

Abstract

Tests of an experimental low pressure spark gap Blumlein switch are presented. Gas flows from a pulsed valve into the gap at a steady rate through holes in the cathode and results in a steady pressure of about 0.1 Torr. The pressure outside the gap over the Blumelin insulator is much lower. Trigger electrodes are mounted in the grounded cathode. Initially the current rises exponentially with time with rate constant proportional to gas density. Measurements of rise time, jitter and voltage holding recovery time are presented for charge voltages up to 250 kV for variations of charge time, gas density, gas type and triggering method.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA637673

Entities

People

  • D. L. Birx
  • E. J. Lauer

Organizations

  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Current Density
  • Diameters
  • Dielectrics
  • Electrodes
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Flow
  • High Pressure
  • High Voltage
  • Impedance
  • Magnetic Modulators
  • Measurement
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Pressure Switches
  • Recovery
  • Spark Gaps
  • Steady State

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics