Effect of the gap on discharge characteristics of the three-electrode trigatron switch

Abstract

A mathematical model was proposed to calculate the breakdown time based on the theoretical analysis of the discharging mechanism for three-electrode trigatron switch with the trigger electrode located inside the main electrode. The simulation result demonstrates that the breakdown time decreases with operating voltage increasing. The dependence on voltage is weak for the high voltages. A threshold voltage exists and threshold voltage increases with the main gap. If the charging voltage is enough high, the breakdown time is about same for both main gaps. Experimental result agrees with the simulation result very well.