A triggered spark gap for discharging spark chambers

Abstract

A compact, simple, internally triggered spark gap for discharging spark chambers is described. The pulse on the spark chamber provides the trigger spark by charging a capacitor formed by the trigger electrode, one of the two main electrodes, and an alumina dielectric until a surface breakdown occurs across the dielectric. The unit provides delay times of 15 to 100 nsec with jitter times of several nsec and has a life of the order of a million pulses when discharging 20 000 pF from 10 kV.