Development of repetitive opening switches using exploding wires

An inductive pulsed power generator is very attractive in size, weight and cost, compared to a capacitive one. Compact, light and repetitive pulsed power generators promise a progress in a variety of pulsed power applications. In order to realize inductive pulsed power generators, the development of repetitive opening switches to interrupt a high current rapidly is necessary. Two repetitive opening switches based on exploding wires have been developed at Ariake National College of Technology and Kumamoto University. Both of them are designed for fast replacement of thin copper wires with a diameter of 30 /spl mu/m and can operate at repetition rate up to 6 pps.