Development of a high Coulomb transfer triggered vacuum switch

Summary form only given, as follows. After reviewing different pulsed high power switches, we selected a triggered vacuum switch to investigate as an electro-thermal chemical-gun switch. We have designed, fabricated, and tested sealed-off triggered vacuum switches (TVS). To fabricate the sealed-off TVS, we developed fabrication processes such as part manufacturing, chemical cleaning, ceramic to metal and metal to metal brazing, metal welding, baking, getter processing and so on. The switches fabricated were tested with capacitor banks of 100 kJ and 300 kJ The prototype switches were successfully tested with about 30 kV, 100 kA, 1 2 ms, and 74-coulomb. It also showed good trigger capability. In addition, we tested the rectifier characteristic of the switch. This paper describes test results of switch characteristics.