170-kV laser-triggered water switch experiments

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 2051 - 2059
• Main Authors: Woodworth, J.R., Chalenski, D., Sarkisov, G.S., Blickem, J.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.12.2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Breaking down; Connectors, relays, and switches; Electric breakdown; Electrodes; Electronic equipment and fabrication. Passive components, printed wiring boards, connectics; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Gas lasers; Jitter; Laser beams; Laser modes; Laser triggering; Lasers; Optical (ultraviolet, visible, infrared) measurements; Optical pulses; Optical switches; Optimization; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma; Plasma devices; Plasma diagnostic techniques and instrumentation; Plasma diagnostics; Plasma switches (e.g., spark gaps); Plasma switches (eg, spark gaps); pulsed power; Strings; Switches; Switching; Voltage; Water; water switches; Wavelengths; Water; Laser triggering; Light matter interaction; Electric discharges; YAG laser; Laser-produced plasma; Switches; pulsed power; Experimental study; Laser beams; water switches; Plasma diagnostics; Plasma expansion; High voltage; Laser pulse; Solid state lasers; Optical method; plasma; Q switched laser; ns range
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2005.860132

We report the results of experiments using a small Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 532 and 1064 nm to trigger a 170-kV pulse-charged water switch. 1-/spl sigma/ jitters as low as /spl plusmn/1.7 ns were demonstrated; an order of magnitude improvement over the /spl plusmn/25-ns jitter of the switch in its self-breaking mode. At the optimum observed triggering wavelength of 532 nm, a 7-ns laser pulse gave better results than a 0.15-ns laser pulse. Time resolved optical diagnostics suggest a multistage triggering process in which the laser forms a string of point plasmas between the switch electrodes. These point plasmas expand, cool and merge, forming a vapor column between the electrodes that breaks down rapidly with low jitter.