A V/n gas switch working in multi-channel discharge mode.

A self-breakdown V/n gas switch, used in 1.25 Ω low impedance pulsed power generator, was designed and tested. The V/n switch consists of three electrodes: high voltage electrode, low voltage electrode and mid-plate electrode. Three electrodes form two gas plenums: one is main plenum, the other auxiliary plenum. The high electrode connects with four inner cylinders of four coaxial pulse forming lines in parallel. The low voltage electrode is attached to a matched pulse transmission line. A resonant inductance is used to reverse polarity of midplate electrode. When the gas pressures of two plenums were suitably set, the V/n switch could steadily work in multi-channel discharge mode, and the switch rise time was less than 30 ns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]