Flash-lamp-triggered high-power thyratron-type switch

Abstract

Extremely high cold cathode emission and a plasma current density that is much higher than commercial glow discharge hot cathode switches have been obtained in a flash-triggered hollow cathode thyratron-type switch that operates in a glow mode. The cold cathode emission is higher by several orders of magnitude than emission from thermionic cathodes in high-power hydrogen thyratrons, without arc formation. Peak current >17 kA, dI/ dt>3×1011 A/s, and power gain >1400 are observed. The switch has been successfully operated as a thyratron substitute in a commercial XeCl excimer laser. The work demonstrates a new approach to thyratron-type switches, and a wide range of technologically useful physical processes that are poorly understood.