The triggered pseudo-spark chamber as a fast switch and as a high-intensity beam source

Bloess, D.; Kamber, I.; Riege, H.; Bittner, G.; Brückner, Volkmar; Christiansen, J.; Frank, K.; Hartmann, Werner; Lieser, N.; Schultheiss, C.; Seeböck, R.; Steudtner, W.

doi:10.1016/0167-5087(83)90187-4

Cited by 101 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Several types of triggering methods are used with these switches. These include slide sparks on dielectrics [5], dc/pulsed glow with a blocking potential [ 6 ] , and a UV light pulse incident upon the back of the cathode [2]. The plasma between the electrodes is spatially confined to the diameter of the electrode holes, producing a very intense discharge, whereas the plasma that extends into the cathode and anode structures is diffuse.…”

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confidence: 99%

Fiber-optic-triggered high-power low-pressure glow discharge switches

Braun

Hartmann

Dominic

et al. 1988

IEEE Trans. Electron Devices

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We report the development of a new version of an optically triggered low-pressure high-power glow discharge switch. Characteristic of these types of switches are high-voltage hold-off, high peak current capability, excellent current rise rate, low delay and jitter, and a simple device geometry. This method of triggering guides a UV light pulse through a fiber-optic cable to the aperture in the cathode electrode. Photoelectrons are produced and quickly avalanche to initiate the discharge, and a glow discharge is formed. Jitter and delay of 0.4 ns HWHM and 78 ns, respectively, have been obtained and reliable triggering has been demonstrated with energies as low as 10 J of UV light. This device is suitable for scaling switches to very high currents and voltages by simultaneously triggering multiple gaps in parallel or series.HIS PAPER reports a triggering method for the op-T tically gated version of the recently developed class of hollow electrode thyratrons [ 11-[5] (pseudosparks and BLT's) that provides for electrical isolation of switch gating, and should allow very high voltage configurations of multiple switches to be developed. This is of interest because these hollow electrode thyratrons operate at low pressure, with a cold cathode, and in a glow discharge mode, and hence offer the possibility of replacing spark gaps for some applications, without requiring high gas flow, and without requiring isolation of a cathode heater. High-power switches are often a limiting component for applications that include lasers, particle accelerators, and fusion-related devices. These high-performance highpower hollow electrode thyratrons are a new class of switches that have resulted from the development of the pseudo-spark switch following Christiansen and Schultheiss [I] and the back-lighted thyratron (BLT) [2], [3]. The BLT differs from the pseudo-spark by using a light pulse, incident on the back of the cathode electrode, as the trigger.These switches have a number of advantages that suggest they will have significant impact on conventional switching technology, and will be considered for applications where thyratrons and spark-gaps are presently used. Features of these switches include glow discharge operation, cold catholde operation, very high dZ/dr, very .G. McDuff is with the School of Electrical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409. IEEE Log Number 8719367.high current and voltage capacity, the ability to handle large reverse currents, and reasonable repetition rates and lifetimes. Examples based on pseudospark and BLT experimental data in a glow mode include -104-A/cm2 cold cathode emission, 2 x 10I2-A/s dZ/dt, > 105-A peak current in a 5-ps pulse, and 100-percent reverse current. By way of comparison, a fast high-power thyratron that is commercially available will typically have ratings of approximately an order of magnitude less in most of these factors (2 X 10"-A/s dZ/dr, lo4-A peak current, and limited reverse current capability in a glow mode), and will have a hot cathode emission rating of -...

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Fiber-optic-triggered high-power low-pressure glow discharge switches

Braun

Hartmann

Dominic

et al. 1988

IEEE Trans. Electron Devices

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“…Energetic electron beams with a peak current at the kiloampere level have been reported but the particular conditions under which they are produced was not disclosed [18]. The first intense collimated electron beams generating from the HCR have been reported to have current densities above 10 6 A · cm −2 [19].…”

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Hollow Cathode Electron Beam Formation and Effects on X-Ray Emission in Capillary Discharges

Valdivia

Wyndham

Favre

2015

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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Electron beams produced by the hollow cathode effect are studied in a compact gas filled 24-kV, 5-kA capillary discharge. The characteristics and role of electron beams on X-ray production are studied in order to better understand their impact on X-ray production. X-ray plasma emission is analyzed with a spectrometer, while wideband diodes and Faraday cup probe both electron beams and X-rays. Electron beams of >5 keV are observed early on the discharge and two types of electron beams are identified: a first beam of high energy and low current (with a speed of ∼5 × 10 7 m/s and a current density of ∼4 × 10 −2 A/cm 2 ) enhanced by larger cathode apertures, and a second beam of low energy and high current enhanced by smaller cathode apertures. The use of a simple configuration of external magnets prevents X-ray fluorescence production, caused by electron beams, from reaching electronic detectors hence confusion when evaluating X-ray yield from the plasma source is avoided. This is particularly important in extreme ultraviolet lithography and soft X-ray production applications. Furthermore, the presence of the external magnets does not modify line emission, which is detected by means of spectrometry. Therefore, the use of external magnets provides a way to discriminate X-ray diode signals produced by source emitted X-rays and X-ray fluorescence from electron beams.

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“…Since the discovery of the transient hollow cathode discharge (THCD) such as pseudospark 1 and channelspark, 2 intense pulsed electron beam generation [3][4][5][6] in these spark-like discharges has attracted considerable attention due to its potential applications. Recently, the electron beam produced in channelspark has been successfully utilized for pulsed electron deposition of thin films [7][8][9] as an alternative energy beam to the optical beam in the pulsed laser deposition.…”

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confidence: 99%