The role of plasma emitter control in triggering and recovering pseudospark switches

The characteristics of pseudospark switches with plasma ignition are studied. Their breakdown mechanisms on triggering and recovering stages are similar and may be presented as phenomena in the system “hollow cathode plasma electron emitter-cathode hole-anode”. The plasma emitter is formed by the igniting discharge or afterglow plasma. The type of discharge on switching stage (superdense glow discharge or vacuum arc) does not play an evident role in the recovery mechanism. Control by the plasma emitter potential is an effective way to operate on breakdown in switches. A positive plasma potential is needed for fast recovery. Accelerating the deionization in the hollow cathode and increasing the ratio h/d (h and d are the height and diameter of the cathode holes) shorten the recovery period. The pseudospark switches recover their electrical strength during some tens of microseconds