Spectroscopic analysis of the blt plasma
- 25 August 2005
- conference paper
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- p. 491-494
- https://doi.org/10.1109/ppc.1989.767531
Abstract
Presented here are the results of a spectroscopic analysis of the plasma occurring in the Back Lighted Thyratron (BLT) switch. The BLT is a high current > 1OkA, high voltage 20-40 kV low pressure/spl tilde/ 0.3 Torr H/sub 2/ gas discharge closing switch. The conductive phase of the switch is initiated by light incident on the back of the cathode surface. The discharge plasma consists of a high current density ( /spl tilde/1OKA/cm/sup 2/) high electron density (/spl tilde/ 10/sup 15//cm/sup 3/), glow discharge between the anode and cathode electrodes and a less dense plasma in the hollow space behind the electrodes. Measurements of the electron density and temperture are presented and discussed in an analysis of the conduction phase plasma. It is determined that the electron distribution function may deviate considerably from a Maxwellian equillibriurn form.Keywords
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