Fiber-Optically Triggered Four Parallel GaAs Photoconductive Semiconductor Switches

Four parallel GaAs photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSSs) were triggered simultaneously by four 1064 nm laser beams. The transient characteristics of four linear electrical pulses were investigated. When the energy of four laser beams were 16.4 mJ, 15.6 mJ, 15.3 mJ, and 13.7 mJ, respectively, four stable electrical pulses of about 25 ns width and 10 ns rise time were obtained at the same bias voltage of 8 kV. The maximum switching voltage amplitude was 3.8 kV. With the triggering pulse energy and bias voltage kept constant, the three GaAs PCSSs were triggered at 10 Hz laser pulse. The method of synchronization calculation was given, and the synchronization of four parallel GaAs PCSSs was calculated to be 79 ps. The influence of bias voltage and laser energy on the voltage amplitude of electrical pulse was analyzed. Furthermore, relationship between the synchronization and the jitter time was also discussed.