Study on a Planar Multi-Gap Multi-Channel Gas Switch for Linear Transformer Drivers

Abstract

To meet linear transformer driver requirements, such as low inductance and long life, a planar multi-gap multi-channel gas switch working under atmospheric pressure is investigated in this paper. A high speed ICCD framing camera is used to catch the images of discharge channels. Some useful images are obtained by the camera and help us to understand the developing process of multiple discharge channels. The results of experiments show that the switch can be triggered reliably and the framing camera images provide the evidence of multiple discharge channels. We calculated the inductance of circuit and switch, which indicates that multiple discharge channels are beneficial to the reduction of the inductance. The relatively uniform erosion spots of the electrodes imply that the randomness of spatial distribution of discharge channels helps to prolong the life of the switch. However, the different breakdown probability of each discharge channel and the difference among discharge channels may influence the life of switch. Influence of working coefficient and triggering voltage on the inductance of the switch and the number of discharge channels are also studied. These work and results may give us some guidelines to design and apply a multi-gap multi-channel gas switch in the future.