Photoconductive switch design and applications

In the high-voltage area many new applications have resulted from utilizing photoconductive switches, such as the high-voltage analogue waveform generator, the distributor-less car ignition system, the HV-impulse generator, the voltage limiting surge arrestor, etc, where the photoconductive devices offer comparable advantages in terms of high-dielectric breakdown strength, high-current capacity, large dynamic range, `jitter-free´ response and bilateral conduction characteristics. This paper reviews the photoconductive switch design and applications, including the recent development of the power photoconductive switch, and evaluates the advantages provided by photoconductive switches over conventional electronic devices