Delay characteristics of a simple triggered vacuum gap

Abstract

Firing delays of a simple triggered vacuum gap are reported in this paper. The effects of insulating materials in the auxiliary gap, auxiliary gap current, main gap
\ncurrent and electrode separation on the delay have been investigated. The presence of insulating material in the auxiliary gap having low auxiliary gap resistance appears
\nto exhibit large delay. Delay decreases considerably with increase of current in the auxiliary and the main gaps, but it increases with increase of electrode separation. The
\nscatter in the delay is less than 25 ps and 500 ps with supramica (Mycalex Corporation of America) and silicon carbide respectively at lower values of auxiliary gap current and it becomes negligible for supramica at auxiliary gap currents greater than 6A. This investigation appears to indicate that the simple device can be used as a fast switch.