Investigation of intense electromagnetic transient phenomenon with application to fast switching physics

Summary form only given. One of the major drivers of pulsed power innovation is ultra-wide band technology. Subnanosecond risetimes and nanosecond or less pulse durations place this technology in a temporal regime that corresponds to microwave frequencies. Ultra-wide band emitters have pushed pulsed power technology into a parameter space where there is little published data on breakdown. This work involves the determination of the Paschen curve for a variety of gases under the application of intense, transient, electric fields. It utilizes the Hindenberg series of hydrogen gas switched pulsers at the US Air Force Research Laboratory located at Kirtland Air Force Base. This series of pulsers is capable of applying 100´s of kilovolts to a load in times of less than a nanosecond.