Discharge Investigation and Switching Characterization of Multi-gap Multi-aperture Pseudospark Switch for Fast Pulse Power Applications

Pseudospark switch (PSS) is a high voltage and high current switching device operating in the low-pressure discharge regime with unique hollow cathode-anode electrode geometry. In this paper, the switching characterization with hydrogen gas at different loads (R
L
= 8.3 Ω & 2.7 Ω) have been presented for the multi-gap multi-aperture pseudospark switch (MGMA-PSS) for fast pulse power applications. Simulation analysis has been carried out to understand the role of the multi-aperture geometry for the different aperture sizes (2.4 mm & 3 mm). Switching characterization of the MGMA-PSS has been carried out at different operating conditions. The switching performance is observed with and without saturable inductor (SI). The SI is used to improve the switching behavior by reducing the commutation losses during the discharge process. Further, circuit analysis is also studied for the multi-gap arrangement of the discharge. This study would be very much useful for the optimization of the discharge characteristics for the design and development of high-power multi-aperture PSS for fast pulse power applications.