Vacuum inductive store/pulse compression experiments on a high power accelerator using plasma opening switches

Abstract

The first results of experiments using plasma opening switches for inductive energy storage are described. The switch has been shown to conduct up to 200-kA current for ∼50 ns then to open in <10 ns, transferring the current to an electron beam load. Inductive energy storage, pulse compression, and power multiplication are demonstrated. A simple model explaining the switch operation is presented.

The Plasma Erosion Opening Switch

“…This application is loosely termed The potential for significant power and voltage multiplication was first demonstrated by feger et al 10 The data in Fig. 14 serve to illustrate the -salient features of this application, albeit under non-optimized conditions.…”

“…2(a), which is a schematic of the front end of the Gamble I generator configured for inductive-store/pulse-conpression experiments with a PEOS. 10 Also shown are a more detailed view of the switch region [ Fig For a given generator pulse and load, the switch behavior can change 0 quite markedly by varying the plasma-gun to electrode separation, the time…”

Plasma Deflection Interrupter for Pulsed Power Applications

“…Common solutions for such applications include spark gaps (including magnetic [1], mechanical [2], and gas quenched [3,4] variants), plasma erosion opening switches (PEOS) [5,6], and semiconductor switches [7]. A summary of opening switch technologies is shown in Figure 1.…”

Repetitive Opening Switches Using Optically Activated Semiconductors.

“…The main difficulty, however, remains the P% opening switch which allows the inductive energy to be transferred to the load Meger et al, 1983). The development of a suitable opening switch in particular for the application to high power systems presents a number of challenges.…”