Spectroscopic studies of gas switches for linear transformer drivers.

Gas switches, whether pulse-triggered or laser-triggered, have been used reliably with low jitter for various pulsed power drivers. We are investigating the emission spectrum of the breakdown arcs in several novel air-filled, pulse-triggered switches for Linear Transformer Drivers (LTDs). In addition, we are investigating the spectrum of a laser-produced arc in SF6 since these laser-produced arcs are used to trigger the 6-MV gas switches being designed for an upgrade to Sandia’s Z-machine. Electrical, spectroscopic, and high-speed camera diagnostics are employed to study the underlying physics that governs the switch operation. For the switch studies, in air and SF6, the optical spectrum which covers the visible and near UV range is dominated by continuum emission. Temperature calculations, based on blackbody emission curves, are reported.