High-power pseudospark and BLT switches
- 1 April 1988
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
- Vol. 16 (2) , 317-323
- https://doi.org/10.1109/27.3831
Abstract
A review is presented of recent developments in a new group of high-power hollow-electrode switches, including the pseudospark and the backlighted thyratron (BLT). Experiments demonstrate that for several key high-power switching performance factors, the pseudospark and BLT switches are superior to either high-pressure spark gap switches or thyratrons or, in some cases, both. High performance has been demonstrated in peak current (>100 kA), current rate of rise (>10/sup 12/ A/s), switching precision, trigger efficiency, current reversal (100%), and recovery time. Several electrical and optical trigger methods have been demonstrated and are described.<>Keywords
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