Fiber-Optic Controlled PCSS Triggers For High Voltage Pulsed Power Switches

This paper reports on progress in the development of fiber optically triggered photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS) for triggering high voltage pulsed power switches with improved precision. This technology can eliminate the need for large-diameter trigger cables and line-of-sight optics. It also has the potential of significantly reducing the cost of trigger generation systems. It has the potential to improve the performance of prime power switches, diverters, and diagnostics because of the low-jitter sub-nanosecond rise times. Test results will be presented that demonstrate sub-nanosecond jitter from a PCSS, less than 1.2 nanoseconds of jitter from a commercial trigatron switch triggered by PCSS, and the performance analysis of a 200 kV class switch triggered by a PCSS based triggering system. This work is a step toward the creation of a reliable self-contained PCSS-based trigger generator that can be physically located on a high voltage switch, allowing the triggering hardware to float. The only connection to the trigger system will be a low energy optical fiber, thereby eliminating the need for HV cables traversing high potential fields or for line-of-sight-optics