Photoconductive switch enhancements and lifetime studies for use in stacked Blumlein pulsers

Author

Davanloo, Farzin ; Dussart, Rémi ; Koivusaari, K.Jarmo ; Collins, Carl B. ; Agee, Forrest J.

Author_Institution

Center for Quantum Electron., Texas Univ., Dallas, TX, USA

Volume

28

Issue

5

fYear

2000

fDate

10/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1500

Lastpage

1506

Abstract

Photoconductive switching of the stacked Blumlein pulsers, developed at the University of Texas at Dallas, currently produces high-power nanosecond pulses with risetimes on the order of 200 ps. The device has a compact geometry and is commutated by a single GaAs switch triggered by a low-power laser diode array. This report presents the progress toward improving the high-gain switch operation and lifetime in stacked Blumlein pulsers. Feasibility of the use of amorphic diamond to enhance the switch operation and longevity is studied. Improvement in switch lifetime was demonstrated by coating the triggered face of a GaAs switch cathode with highly adhesive film of amorphic diamond. Relevant semiconductor properties of amorphic diamond are discussed

Keywords

gallium arsenide; microwave switches; photoconducting switches; GaAs; GaAs switch; amorphic diamond; high-gain switch operation; high-power nanosecond pulses; highly adhesive film; lifetime studies; low-power laser diode array; photoconductive switch enhancements; semiconductor properties; stacked Blumlein pulsers; switch operation; Cathodes; Coatings; Diode lasers; Gallium arsenide; Geometrical optics; Optical arrays; Photoconductivity; Semiconductor films; Semiconductor laser arrays; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.901222

Filename

901222