DocumentCode :
969558
Title :
Low-Jitter Triggered Spark Gap With High-Pressure Gas Mixtures
Author :
Chen, Yeong-Jer ; Mankowski, John J. ; Dickens, James C. ; Walter, John ; Kristiansen, Magne
Author_Institution :
Electr. & Comput. Eng. Dept., Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX
Volume :
36
Issue :
5
fYear :
2008
Firstpage :
2546
Lastpage :
2553
Abstract :
Recent attention to impulse antenna phased array has necessitated the need to develop a reliable high-voltage high-repetition-rate switch that will operate with ultralow jitter. An ideal jitter of a small fraction of the rise time is required to accurately synchronize the array to steer and preserve the rise time of the radiated pulse. This paper presents the impact that gases and gas mixtures have on switch performance which includes recovery rate and, in particular, jitter. A 50-Omega 1-nF pulse-forming line is charged to 30 kV and provides the low inductance voltage source to test the different gases. Triggering is provided by a solid-state opening switch voltage source that supplies >100-kV 10-ns rise-time pulses at a rep rate of up to 1 kHz in burst mode. A hermetically sealed spark gap with a Kel-F lining is used to house the switch and high-pressure gas. The system includes a gas-mixing chamber that can mix various gases up to 2000 psi. Gases tested include dry air, H2, N2, and SF6. Switch operations in 30 kV and 10 Hz have shown reliable subnanosecond jitter times with pure gases, including dry air, H2, N2, and with H2 - N2 and N2 - SF6 gas mixtures. The system was then modified for 50-kV 100-Hz operations with data collected for each of the pure gases. Recovery was monitored with no major problems at the 100-Hz operation, and subnanosecond jitter results for H2 , N2, and SF6 are also recorded.
Keywords :
hydrogen neutral molecules; jitter; nitrogen; plasma devices; spark gaps; sulphur compounds; switchgear; H2; N2; SF6; capacitance 1 nF; dry air; gas mixing chamber; gas mixture effects; hermetically sealed spark gap; high pressure gas mixtures; high voltage high repetition rate switch; hydrogen gas; impulse antenna phased array; low inductance voltage source; low jitter triggered spark gap; nitrogen gas; pulse forming line; radiated pulse rise time; resistance 50 ohm; solid state opening switch voltage source; sulfur hexafluoride gas; switch performance; switch recovery rate; time 10 ns; ultralow jitter operatation; voltage 30 kV; voltage 50 kV; High-pressure gas mixtures; high repetition rate; impulse antenna; phased array; subnanosecond jitter;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0093-3813
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2008.2004366
Filename :
4663175
Link To Document :
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