Saturable Magnetic Switch Research Articles

Performance of pulsed power generator using high-voltage static induction thyristor

In a present pulsed power generator system using semiconductor switches, saturable magnetic switches are usually connected in series to compress the output pulse because the current rise-time of semiconductor switches are generally not short enough, However, the magnetic switches are heavy and they reduce the energy transfer efficiency. So we propose a pulsed power generator system using a 5500-V static induction thyristor (SI-Thy), a Blumlein line for pulse formation, and a step-up pulse transformer. The fundamental characteristics of the generator are evaluated. From experiments using only one SI-Thy, turn-on time of several tens of nanoseconds and the maximum rise rate of the output voltage of 115-kV//spl mu/s are obtained. It is confirmed that an SI-Thy will have sufficient performance as a main switch of the pulsed power generator for the flue gas treatment and decomposition of hazardous gases when several SI-Thys are connected in series.

Long pulse operation of an x-ray preionized molecular fluorine laser excited by a prepulse–main pulse system with a magnetic switch

The application of a prepulse–main pulse excitation scheme utilizing a saturable magnetic switch in combination with x-ray preionization has resulted in the generation of long optical pulses from a molecular fluorine laser. Optimum laser pulse durations of 70 ns (full width half maximum) have been obtained in a gas mixture of helium and 3 mbar fluorine at a total pressure of 2 bar. The laser pulse duration is limited by instabilities in the discharge. The laser pulse duration is found to decrease with increasing fluorine pressure and to saturate with increasing current density.