Functional model of a triggered spark gap

Summary form only given. Gas filled triggered spark gaps exhibit performance characteristics that depend on the gas species, gas pressure, and electrode spacing, as well as the mode of operation. The characteristics of interest are dielectric withstanding voltage turn-on delay time, and cut-off voltage. Dielectric withstanding voltage is described in terms of the gas species, pressure, and electrode spacing by Paschen´s equation. An expression for cut-off voltage is developed using the assumption that the average electron energy is less than the effective ionization potential of the gas. The cutoff voltage and the Townsend gas breakdown criterion are used in the Langevin equation to develop an expression for the turn-on delay time. The model is shown to agree well with experimental data from a large number of triggered spark gaps.