Low power laser trigger switching of a solid insulated spark gap.

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Laser Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Solid dielectric insulated spark gaps are crucial components in high-voltage systems.
• Reliable triggering of these gaps is essential for precise timing and system performance.
• Current triggering methods may have limitations in terms of speed, jitter, or power requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the feasibility of using low-power lasers to trigger solid dielectric insulated spark gaps.
• To investigate the parameters influencing laser-induced breakdown in dielectric materials for spark gap applications.
• To establish a foundation for developing advanced, laser-triggered spark gap systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a focused 6 MW Nd:YAG laser emitting 40 mJ pulses (6 ns width) to initiate breakdown.
• Employed 10-mil Lexan dielectric sheets subjected to 70 kV electrical stress.
• Measured breakdown initiation times and associated delays.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated reliable triggering of solid dielectric insulated spark gaps using a low-power laser.
• Achieved breakdown initiation delays in the tens of nanoseconds.
• Identified that slight increases in laser power or electrical stress could potentially reduce delays to below 10 ns and achieve sub-nanosecond jitter.

Conclusions:

• Low-power laser triggering is a feasible method for solid dielectric insulated spark gaps.
• The demonstrated technique offers potential for precise and rapid switching in high-voltage applications.
• Further optimization of laser parameters and electrical stress can lead to enhanced performance, including reduced jitter and delays.