Minimization of Impedance Fluctuations in Cold-Cathode Pseudospark Switches (PSS)

Urban, J.; Frank, K.

doi:10.1109/tps.2004.823928

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In fact, type II‐3 is also related to the ‘cathode’ spots because after the loop current is reversed, the relative positions of the cathode and anode are exchanged. It has been observed that the electrode material has an important influence on the reignition behaviour after current zero, and tungsten compound performs better than molybdenum [32]. According to the work presented by Landl [33], the plasma inside the hollow cathode has an important influence on the insulation recovery process.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revealing phase transitions and instabilities in pseudospark discharges

et al. 2022

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Pseudospark discharge is a low‐pressure high‐voltage pulsed discharge with hollow electrodes, and the overall discharge experiences several distinctive sub‐phases. The instability phenomena, characterised by the sudden oscillations or distortions of discharge voltage and current, restrict the applications of pseudospark discharge. This study presents an investigation into phase transitions and instabilities in pseudospark discharge by combining the evidences from multiple discharge waveforms, time‐resolved images, electron beam current profiles, 2D kinetic simulation results, and the spectral line emission of cathode material. The process of a normal pseudospark discharge is firstly discussed, and the threshold conditions of the transition from the superdense glow discharge (SGD) phase to the high current phase with arc cathode spots are addressed. According to temporal profiles and voltage‐current characteristics, two types and four occurrences of instabilities are distinguished: type I—in the pre‐breakdown phase; type II‐1—in the SGD phase; type II‐2—in the transition of cathode spots propagating from cathode hole edge to cathode plane; type II‐3—in the re‐initiation of spots near current reversal. It is found that the instability of type I is caused by the stepwise penetration of virtual anode plasma, and type II is closely related to the cyclic nature and finite lifetime of cathode spots. It is induced by the fact that the decay of cathode spots is faster than the formation under certain conditions, and the existing spots are not able to provide the current required by the external circuit. Important features and the suppression methods of the instabilities are discussed based on the proposed mechanisms.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revealing phase transitions and instabilities in pseudospark discharges

et al. 2022

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“…This jitter leads to a change in the energy loss within the switch and therefore changes the transferred energy. This effect is discussed in detail in [11]. According to that paper, the borehole diameter for the lowest energy loss within the switch is 3 mm.…”

Section: Phenomena Related To Cold-cathode Switches Which Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The transferred charge until the quenching process is only depending on the gas pressure not on the current value. A more detailed discussion of this problem can be found in [11]. The problem can be reduced by optimization of the borehole diameter in the cathode.…”

Section: Phenomena Related To Cold-cathode Switches Which Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do gas-filled switches still have a future?

Frank

Lee

Petzenhauser

et al. 2007

2007 16th IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference

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In the first part of the paper in a short review the history of the development of gas-filled high power switches is described, including all the special switching devices, which had been proposed to overcome specific shortcomings of the basic configurations of gas-filled devices like spark gaps, cold and hot cathode thyratrons and triggered vacuum tubes. The second part treats in detail the most serious problem for gas-filled switches to be still competitive with solid-state switches: Lifetime limitation by electrode erosion. The pseudospark discharge as low-pressure cold cathode device is chosen to illustrate the most important mechanisms, which contribute to electrode erosion or are related to cathode emission processes in general. As next subject of the manuscript some promising new developments in the area of gas-filled switches are described. Those obviously show that there is still a variety of applications for them, which guarantee a bright future. Based upon the results of the previous part in the last part, the pros and cons are summarized with the goal to comment the on-going process of substitution or not-substitution of gas-filled switches by solid-state devices. Finally the physical and technological limits are listed together with an outlook to future chances with the development of both types of high power switches.

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“…This type of switch combines several advantages like low stand-by power, its ruggedness to current reversal, and its very fast current rise [5,6].…”

Section: The Pfn Of the Injection/extraction Kicker Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Below 1 kA different undesired phenomena occurs, the so-called quenching. This shortcoming meanwhile can be minimized by proper choice of electrode material and geometry [5].…”

Section: Multi-gap Pseudospark Switchesmentioning

confidence: 99%