A low-jitter self-break repetitive multi-stage gas switch.

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Plasma Physics
• High-Voltage Engineering

Background:

• Repetitive gas switches are crucial for pulsed power applications.
• Achieving low jitter and high operating voltages in gas switches remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a megavolt, low-jitter, self-break repetitive gas switch.
• To enhance switch performance using corona stabilization and a multi-stage design.

Main Methods:

• The switch design incorporates a corona stabilization stage followed by rimfire stages.
• Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas is utilized within the switch.
• Experimental validation involved a 1.3-cm corona stage and five 0.5-cm rimfire stages.

Main Results:

• The multi-stage gas switch demonstrated stable operation at a 50 Hz repetition rate frequency (PRF).
• Voltage jitter was consistently below 2% over 2000 discharges.
• The switch achieved a breakdown voltage of 770 kV with a single discharge current of 8.50 kA at 4 bars.

Conclusions:

• The corona stabilization and multi-stage structure effectively reduce voltage jitter in repetitive gas switches.
• The developed switch meets demanding performance criteria for high-voltage, high-repetition-rate applications.