<title>Considerations of the limits and capabilities of light-activated switches</title>

Abstract

We examine the limitations of light activated semiconductor switches from a pulsed power point of view, particularly the power and the speed. The factors considered fall into three categories, namely electromagnetic principles, physical properties and carrier generation. We show how, after a full examination of the switch in a real operating environment, we are led to the choice of a silicon junction with linear activation as the optimum design for a repetitively switched high power device.