Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Directional Relays01:25

Directional Relays

Directional relays, essential for managing unidirectional fault currents, enhance the safety and efficiency of power systems. On power lines equipped with directional relays, faults downstream (to the right) of the current transformer typically cause the fault current to lag the bus voltage by approximately 90 degrees, known as the forward direction. In contrast, upstream (left-side) faults may result in the fault current leading the bus voltage by nearly 90 degrees, termed the reverse...
Differential Relays01:20

Differential Relays

Differential relays are used to protect generators, buses, and transformers by comparing electrical quantities at different points. When a fault occurs, the difference in current between the two points triggers the relay to operate, opening the circuit breaker. Under normal conditions, the current entering (i1) and leaving (i2) a generator are equal. When a fault occurs, however, these currents become unequal, and the difference current flows in the relay operating coil, causing the relay to...
RL Circuits01:14

RL Circuits

An RL circuit consists of a resistor and an inductor and may have a source of emf connected to it. The inductor in the circuit helps to prevent rapid changes in current, which can be helpful if a steady current is required but the external source has a fluctuating emf. Consider an open RL circuit connected to a source of constant emf. As soon as the circuit is closed, the current begins to increase at a rate that depends only on the value of the inductance in the circuit. The greater the...
Switching of BJT01:22

Switching of BJT

Switching behavior in Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) is a fundamental aspect utilized in various electronic circuits, particularly for digital logic applications like switches and amplifiers. In a typical switching circuit, a BJT alternates between cut-off and saturation modes, corresponding to the "off" and "on" states, respectively, thus behaving like an ideal switch.
Cut-off Mode ("Off" State): In this state, both the emitter-base and collector-base junctions are reverse-biased. The...
Power System Distribution01:25

Power System Distribution

Power system distribution involves delivering electrical energy from power plants to consumers through a network of transmission and distribution systems. The process begins at power plants, where energy from coal, gas, nuclear, water, and wind is converted into electrical energy. These plants use three-phase generators, typically rated between 50 to 1300 MVA, with terminal voltages ranging from a few kV to 20 kV, depending on the size and age of the units.
The transmission system is designed...
Fast Decoupled and DC Powerflow01:24

Fast Decoupled and DC Powerflow

The fast decoupled power flow method addresses contingencies in power system operations, such as generator outages or transmission line failures. This method provides quick power flow solutions, essential for real-time system adjustments. Fast decoupled power flow algorithms simplify the Jacobian matrix by neglecting certain elements, leading to two sets of decoupled equations:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The complex circumstellar environment of supernova 2023ixf.

Nature·2024
Same author

Transmission of megawatt relativistic electron beams through millimeter apertures.

Physical review letters·2013
Same author

Very High Power THz Radiation Sources.

Journal of biological physics·2013
Same author

Free-electron-laser oscillator with a linear taper.

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2003
Same author

Second harmonic FEL oscillation.

Physical review letters·2001
Same author

How our innovative plan helped us handle the pharmacist shortage.

Pharmacy times·1987
Same journal

Compressed multi-scale entropy and its application in mechanical fault diagnosis.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026
Same journal

Bidirectional drive and multi-resolution adjustment across frequency bands in inertial impact piezoelectric motors via multimodal resonant vibration.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026
Same journal

A magnetic field sensor based on flaky Terfenol-D material and dual fiber grating.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026
Same journal

A novel E-field eight-way cavity combiner for high-power S-band applications.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026
Same journal

Constant radius blade spring suspended bench for vibration isolation.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026
Same journal

Qualification of infrared optical fibers and emitters for a spectrometer for in situ planetary exploration: Results from the TRIS (TRansmission and Illumination System) project.

The Review of scientific instruments·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

High-precision Electromagnetic Flowmeter with Empty Pipe Detection via Complex Programmable Logic Device-based Waveform Recognition
05:11

High-precision Electromagnetic Flowmeter with Empty Pipe Detection via Complex Programmable Logic Device-based Waveform Recognition

Published on: June 27, 2025

Multichannel, high-energy railgap switch.

G R Neil1, R S Post

  • 1Nuclear Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

The Review of Scientific Instruments
|March 1, 1978
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A new multichannel railgap switch efficiently handles 20 kilojoules (kJ) at 500 kiloamperes (kA). This high-power switch offers low jitter, broad voltage operation, and minimal electrode wear for demanding applications.

More Related Videos

Enabling High Grayscale Resolution Displays and Accurate Response Time Measurements on Conventional Computers
06:50

Enabling High Grayscale Resolution Displays and Accurate Response Time Measurements on Conventional Computers

Published on: February 29, 2012

New Variations for Strategy Set-shifting in the Rat
09:45

New Variations for Strategy Set-shifting in the Rat

Published on: January 23, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

High-precision Electromagnetic Flowmeter with Empty Pipe Detection via Complex Programmable Logic Device-based Waveform Recognition
05:11

High-precision Electromagnetic Flowmeter with Empty Pipe Detection via Complex Programmable Logic Device-based Waveform Recognition

Published on: June 27, 2025

Enabling High Grayscale Resolution Displays and Accurate Response Time Measurements on Conventional Computers
06:50

Enabling High Grayscale Resolution Displays and Accurate Response Time Measurements on Conventional Computers

Published on: February 29, 2012

New Variations for Strategy Set-shifting in the Rat
09:45

New Variations for Strategy Set-shifting in the Rat

Published on: January 23, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Pulsed Power Technology
  • Plasma Physics

Background:

  • High-power pulsed systems require reliable and efficient switching components.
  • Existing railgap switches often face limitations in inductance, jitter, and electrode erosion.
  • Developing advanced switching technology is crucial for applications like fusion energy and directed energy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and characterize a novel low-inductance, multichannel railgap switch.
  • To evaluate the switch's performance in terms of energy handling, jitter, voltage range, and electrode erosion.
  • To demonstrate the suitability of this switch for high-current, pulsed power applications.

Main Methods:

  • Design and fabrication of a multichannel railgap switch with optimized geometry.
  • Experimental testing under high-energy (20 kJ) and high-current (500 kA) conditions.
  • Analysis of switching parameters including inductance, jitter, voltage standoff, and electrode material degradation.

Main Results:

  • Successfully developed a multichannel railgap switch with significantly reduced inductance.
  • Demonstrated stable switching of 20 kJ at 500 kA with low timing jitter.
  • Observed a wide operating voltage range and a remarkably low electrode erosion rate.
  • The multichannel design effectively distributed the current, mitigating erosion.

Conclusions:

  • The developed low-inductance, multichannel railgap switch represents a significant advancement in pulsed power technology.
  • Its superior performance characteristics, including low jitter and low erosion, make it ideal for high-energy applications.
  • This switch technology holds promise for enhancing the reliability and efficiency of future pulsed power systems.