Feasibility of a High Average Power Crossed Field Closing Switch

Results of an experimentalprogram to determine the feasibility of using a crossed field device as a high average power triggered closing switch are reported. The tube contained coaxial, cylindrical electrodes and was triggered by pulsing a magnetic field (<0.1 T) to a value sufficiently high to trap electrons and initiate conduction. Holdoff voltages up to 60 kV were achieved, with peak (circuit limited) currents as high as 20 kA and pulse durations in the range of 1 to 100 μs. Ignition jitter was ~0.1 μs, and the voltage recovery rate was 2 kV/μs after 20 kA conduction and a 50 μs deionization time. These single and double shot data indicate that it should be possible to build such a device to operate at high average power levels for use in high power (MW) modulators.