Fiber-optic-triggered high-power low-pressure glow discharge switches

The development of a novel version of an optically triggered low-pressure high-power glow discharge switch is reported. Characteristic of these type of switches are high-voltage hold-off, high peak current capability, excellent current rise rate, low delay and jitter, and a simple device geometry. This method of triggering guides a UV light pulse through a fiber-optic cable to the aperture in the cathode electrode. Photoelectrons are produced and quickly avalanche to initiate the discharge, and a glow discharge is formed. Jitter and delay of 0.4 ns half-width half-maximum (HWHM) and 78 ns, respectively, have been obtained and reliable triggering has been demonstrated with energies as low as 10 μJ of UV light. This device is considered suitable for scaling switches to very high current and voltages by simultaneously triggering multiple gaps in parallel or series