Optically activated switches for low jitter pulsed power applications

Optically activated high voltage switches are commonly used in pulsed power systems for reliable low jitter, multichannel and multiswitch (low inductance) applications. In addition to low jitter switching, optical activation provides a high degree of electrical isolation between the triggering and switching power systems simplifying pulsed power design. The disadvantages of optical triggering for large-gap gas switches are the optical energy, line-of-sight optics, and system maintenance required to obtain reliable operation. This paper describes two technologies which can reduce or eliminate these disadvantages and provide more flexible optically activated switches for pulsed power systems. One approach is to reduce the optical trigger energy requirement for gas gap switches. Shorter optical pulses require less energy to initiate a plasma discharge. An experiment is being assembled to trigger a 50-100 kV gas gap switch with 120 fs wide optical pulses. Lower trigger energy has also been demonstrated by the introduction of metallic aerosols into a gas gap W. Frey (1997). The apparatus will be added to this experiment to reproduce these results and determine the optical energy and power density requirements over a range of wavelengths and pulse widths. The status of this experiment will be discussed. A second approach uses solid state switching in two configurations: (1) as the main switch and (2) as a trigger. High-gain photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS) are practical for some direct pulsed power switching applications. We have demonstrated switching up to 220 kV and 8 kA. Higher power optically activated switching can be obtained by combining solid state and gas gap switching technologies. Multimegavolt (MMV) switches can be triggered with fiber-optically triggered, remotely located PCSS. By placing the compact PCSS trigger extremely close to the trigger point, reliable, low-jitter, high power switching is achieved with low energy fiber-optic trigger systems that can easily be controlled and adjusted from a remote control center. Power for the trigger system can be derived from the electrical fields near the trigger, so all electrical cables to the trigger system are eliminated and replaced with 100 micron diameter fibers that trigger and monitor the operation of the system. Results from experiments with PCSS triggered gas gap switches and the design for a PCSS triggered multimegavolt switch will be reported. PCSS switching properties including new picosecond pulse results and fabrication procedures for improved longevity will also be described. A 120 fs wide 780 nm laser pulse was used to radiate THz bandwidth pulses with a GaAs PCSS operating in the linear mode. New approaches for PCSS contact fabrication are being developed and tested to simplify the growth procedure, increase the current per filament capability, and improve device longevity. Progress continues to make PCSS a more useful component for pulsed power applications.