A ring carbon plasma gun for the plasma opening switch

The carbon plasma gun is commonly used as a source of dense plasma for plasma opening switches. The plasma is produced by the surface flashover of an insulator, although an even distribution is difficult to achieve when overall space restrictions limit the number of guns that can be employed. This paper describes a novel ring gun that, in addition to overcoming this problem, also enhances the switch performance by producing a surface flashover of the insulation that travels along a circular path. A study is presented of an experimental gun, using measured data provided by electrical probes and optical techniques. Supporting theoretical explanations are given.