A sealed-off double-gap pseudospark switch and its performance analysis

This paper reports the development of a sealed-off double-gap pseudospark switch and its performance analysis. The modular pseudospark geometry has two gaps that are separated by a cavity drift space region. It utilizes a single ferroelectric trigger unit in a hollow cathode region of the first gap to initiate the discharge for rapid breakdown of both the gaps. The switch has been pinched for deuterium gas and a gas reservoir has been used for maintaining optimum gas pressure in the sealed-off device. The switch design has been analyzed for higher hold-off voltage with high charge transfer capability at higher repetition rates. The developed switch holds a 50 kV voltage in vacuum, and 40 kV during gas discharge at optimum gas pressure with a peak anode current of 8 kA and pulse duration of 1.3 mu s while it is operated with a resistive load of 2.9 Omega. The switch has been tested using a constant current charging power supply for pulse repetition frequency up to 50 Hz at different voltages and peak currents corresponding to 200 nF energy storage capacitors. Its performance has been analyzed in terms of pulse parameters including hold-off voltage, jitter, fall time, rise time, peak current and delay time to qualify the design.