A high speed double snubber crowbar

A high-speed, 80-kV, self-triggering crowbar has been constructed to protect the Princeton Beta Experiment-Modified (PBX-M) diagnostic neutral probe beam (NPB) ion source from arc damage and assist in rapid high-voltage conditioning. The crowbar, operating in conjunction with two magnetic-core snubbers, quickly limits and diverts ion-source arc current. The charge flowing in the ion-source arc is reduced an order of magnitude below the level expected with only snubber protection. The crowbar firing time is less than 100 ns at an 80-kV operating level.<>