The ferratron: a novel, repetitively rated, triggered spark gap switch with ultra low jitter

Low jitter, triggered spark gap switches are highly desirable components for a wide variety of industrial and military applications. In particular, this switch enables a wide range of protection circuitry that is presently technically infeasible with the considerable jitter associated with high power switches. The device presently under advanced development is a novel triggering scheme using a ferroelectric ceramic as the electron source coupled with a high gas flow rate which allows reliable triggering at low trigger voltages, even at high repetition rates. The trigger system is integrated into a switch chamber design capable of sustaining 500 kV at a pressure of 1500 psig. The switch chamber is tailored to reduce field stresses and provide a low inductance current path with a very compact geometry. The high gas flow rate allows the replacement of the gas in the discharge region within the time scale necessary to sustain the required repetition rate of 100-1000 Hz. The switch has been successfully operated during preliminary tests using N₂ at low pressures. Early measurements of an unoptimized configuration have demonstrated a functioning ferroelectric triggered switch operating at 2.5 kV, 500 ps risetime, and 63 ps jitter. Additional testing of various configurations of the present switch will provide useful information for the development of a low jitter, fast rise time, high-voltage ferroelectric switch