Multichannel surface discharge switch

The performance of a multichannel surface discharge switch has been investigated as a function of the dielectric material. The switch operates at 45 kV and transfers 180 joules per shot at a rate of 1.2 pps in ambient air. Dielectrics presently under investigation include Delrin, Blue Nylon, Kapton, Lucite, G-10, Macor ceramic, and two forms of boron nitride. The dielectrics are compared by observing their erosion, changes in breakdown voltage, and the number of channels per meter during discharges. The surfaces of three of the dielectrics exposed to 10,000 shots have been studied using ESCA.