UV LED Triggered Spark Gap

Summary form only given. Spark gap is used extensively in all kinds of pulse generators, traditional Trigatron type spark gap relies on a pulsed high voltage (usually around 30 % of hold off voltage) to trigger the main gap breakdown. The statistical delay is inversely proportional to pressure and related to streamer propagation time. On the other hand, laser triggered spark gap require high cost YAG laser to provide very strong intensity (~10⁹ W/cm², tens of mJ energy) to ionize SF₆ or air to initiate breakdown. UV flash lamp has also been used to trigger Thyratron in Back Light Thyratron (BLT). The emergence of high power (1-3 W) U V LED presents a new opportunity in triggering a spark gap. LED is compact, low cost, low voltage, and with very low jitter. One or several UV LEDs are positioned in the center of a Trigatron type spark gap to initiate the main discharge. Preliminary results of breakdown waveform and delay are discussed.