Low-Jitter, High-Voltage, Infrared, Laser-Triggered, Vacuum Switch
Abstract
A laser-triggered, high-voltage vacuum switch using a triggering pellet embedded in the cathode has been developed. The switch was constructed with tungsten electrodes and used either KCl or Poco graphite pellets. An aperture in the anode allowed the laser beam to strike the pellet on the cathode surface. Reliable triggering was achieved with only 200 micro(J) of laser energy at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The switch was operated with an A-K gap voltage ranging from 5- to 30-kV with switching currents up to 15 kA peak. The delay time of the switch varied from 70 plus or minus 3 ns at 25 kV to 500 plus or minus 100 ns at 5 kV.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA638001
Entities
People
- G. A. Barnes
- L. M. Earley
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory