Subnanosecond-jitter laser-triggered switching at moderate repetition rates

Bettis, J. R.; Guenther, Arthur H.

doi:10.1109/jqe.1970.1076510

Cited by 40 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Utilization of 5 ns FWHM ultraviolet laser with wavelengths from 248 to 266 nm can provide nanosecond jitter, for centimeter length gaps in SF 6 , with only 2 millijoules of laser energy [50] if the energy is focused properly. Subnanosecond jitter is possible when a large fraction of the gap ( 25%) is ionized with focused laser energy [53,56]. The laser trigger system for the refurbished Z accelerator consists of 36 independently controlled lasers, one for each switch.…”

Section: Triggered Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a 5.4 MV laser triggered gas switch for multimodule, multimegampere pulsed power drivers

LeChien

Savage

Anaya

et al. 2008

Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams

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Laser triggered, megavolt, megampere gas switches are frequently utilized to synchronize multiple pulsed power driver modules for inertial-confinement fusion, isentropic compression, and radiation physics experiments. The device developed to synchronize the 36 modules of the refurbished Z accelerator at Sandia National Laboratories is a 5.4 MV, 700 kA, sulfur-hexafluoride (SF 6 ) filled, laser triggered gas switch. At this operating level, switch jitter is 5 ns, the prefire rate is less than 0.1%, the average optic lifetime is greater than 200 shots, and the flashover rate is less than 1%. Over 1000 shots on a single-module test facility were conducted while iterating several potential design improvements, including utilizing low-erosion electrode material, varying SF 6 pressure, and modifying internal switch geometry all while keeping the basic switch architecture and footprint constant. Results of this development effort are presented herein.

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Section: Triggered Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a 5.4 MV laser triggered gas switch for multimodule, multimegampere pulsed power drivers

LeChien

Savage

Anaya

et al. 2008

Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams

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show abstract

“…In this scheme, the electric field amplifies the laser created plasma ionization until a conductive path is created via an electron avalanche and streamer formation, closing the switch. 2 This method used primarily ruby, CO 2 , and Nd:YAG lasers with pulse energies ranging from several Joules 3,4 to 0.17 mJ, 5,6 and is well reviewed by Guenther and Bettis, 2 and re-examined by Dougal and Williams. 7 Using this configuration, subnanosecond jitter can be obtained when the spark gap is operated close to the self-breakdown voltage.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Femtosecond laser triggering of a sub-100 picosecond jitter high-voltage spark gap

Luther

Furfaro

Klix

et al. 2001

Applied Physics Letters

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“…For gas switches that require megavolt holdoff voltages and nanosecond switch jitter (i.e., variation in the switch closure time), UV irradiated laser triggering is the preferred choice. The trigger system is electrically isolated from the high voltage switch, and switch jitters of below 1 ns have been reported [17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low jitter, high voltage, repetitive laser triggered gas switches

Hegeler¹,

Myers

Wolford

et al. 2013

IEEE Trans. Dielect. Electr. Insul.

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The Electra pulsed power system at the Naval Research Laboratory is capable of supplying 16 kJ to a low impedance load within 140 ns, and it allows continuous operation of up to 5 pulses per second for several hours. Four laser triggered SF 6 gas switches transfer the stored pulse forming line energy to the load. Each switch has a hold-off voltage of more than 1 MV and transfers a charge of 10 mC per shot. This paper describes the redesign of the gas switch with hemispherical electrodes to a flat electrode configuration, which led to an improvement in switch reliability. A one sigma switch jitter of ±1.2 ns has been achieved for tens of thousands of continuous shots, with an electrode erosion rate as low as 1 mg/C. Detailed statistical analyses are provided when the switches are operated at a SF 6 pressure of 0.36 -0.69 MPa, with a laser trigger energy of 1 -18 mJ at 266 nm, and a switch hold-off voltage ranging from 0.7 -1.2 MV.

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Subnanosecond-jitter laser-triggered switching at moderate repetition rates

Cited by 40 publications

References 5 publications

Development of a 5.4 MV laser triggered gas switch for multimodule, multimegampere pulsed power drivers

Development of a 5.4 MV laser triggered gas switch for multimodule, multimegampere pulsed power drivers

Femtosecond laser triggering of a sub-100 picosecond jitter high-voltage spark gap

Low jitter, high voltage, repetitive laser triggered gas switches

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