Pseudospark switches (PSS) for pulsed power applications

Basing on the pseudo spark discharge, a low pressure gas discharge in a special geometry, fast closing switches for different pulsed power applications have been designed. Medium power PSS (≤ 30 kA peak current) were used in laser circuits whereas high current PSS are tested successfully in high current pulsed power applications (≤ 200 kA). For currents of a few kA the discharge is supported by cathode spots on the cold cathode surface. For higher currents anode activity is observed too. Inserting semiconductor material seems not only to suppress high erosive spot formation but support diffuse large-area electrode emission. A different approach to solve the problem of lowering the erosion rate is the multichannel PSS (MUPS). In order to distribute the discharge current to more than one single channel three or more discharge channels are radial or coaxial arranged. With regard to high voltage applications the maximum hold-off voltage was increased by adding an intermediate electrode.