Some Properties of a Graded Vacuum Spark Gap

Abstract

A high power, low inductance vacuum spark gap combination (crowbar and main switch) is described which is capable of dc operation over a wide voltage range. The electrical properties are discussed in regard to shorting and multiple switch operation. The principal difficulty of vacuum spark gaps, the coating of the inner surface of the insulator with evaporated and sputtered electrode material, is absent in this design after conditioning. A mechanism to account for this, based on the establishment of a large number of nucleation centers on the insulating walls, is shown to be consistent with observation.