Pulsed Gas Discharge Driven by Bipolar Solid-State Linear Transformer Driver

Abstract

Pulsed gas discharge has been studied using a pulsed power generator with a bipolar solid-state linear transformer driver (SSLTD) scheme. Taking advantage of the output flexibility of the bipolar SSLTD, we have studied the residual charges phenomenon by the coaxial discharge load. The experiment result shows that for two consecutive positive pulses discharge, the current of the second positive pulse is usually lower than that of the first pulse for the same voltage amplitude. However, a middle negative pulse applied between the first and second pulse can increase the current of the second positive pulse. An explanation for this phenomenon has been explored using a 1-D model that considers the effect of residual charge left by the previous pulse discharge. According to the explanation of our 1-D discharge model, this phenomenon may be caused by the residual charge distorting the discharge electric field strength. The findings obtained by this article will help us understand the fundamental characteristics of pulsed atmospheric pressure gas discharge.