KrF Laser-Triggered SF6 Spark Gap for Low Jitter Timing

KrF laser-triggered spark gaps exploit the high dc-dielectric strength and low ultraviolet (UV) breakdown threshold of SF6 gas. Detailed measurements using a dc-charged pulser demonstrate subnanosecond jitter for switching a 0.5-cm gap operated at 80 kV with 7 mJ in 20 ns of 248-nm KrF radiation. A 200-kV pulse-charged 0.7-cm gap gives similar performance.     

Pulsed power for a rep-rate, electron beam pumped KrF laser

A new type of pulsed power system has been designed and built for a rep-rate, electron beam, pumped KrF laser. The system consists of two independent 11.2-kJ generators, which operate continuously at 5 Hz and produce two opposing 500-kV, 110-kA, 100-ns flat-top electron beams. The system combines the spark gap prime switch/step-up transformer design from the AIRIX and DAHRT injectors, and the water pulse-forming lines/output switch/vacuum insulator design from the Nike 60-cm amplifier. The system is fully operational, with both sides operating together. One side has operated continuously at 5 Hz for 90000 shots. The paper describes the system and the results of initial tests, including electrode wear     

Characteristics of a vacuum spark triggered by the transient hollowcathode discharge electron beam

The discharge characteristics of a vacuum spark triggered by the transient hollow cathode discharge (THCD) electron beam is investigated over a wide variety of discharge conditions. Two systems of the vacuum spark device have been considered-the first system powered by eight 2700-pF doorknob capacitors charged to a voltage of 40 kV (input energy of 17.6 J); while the second system employs a single 1.85-μF Maxwell capacitor discharged at a voltage of 20 kV (input energy of 370 J). The operating pressure of these systems has been varied over the range of 10 ^-2 to 10^-5 mbar in order to examine the effect of the operating pressure on the plasma formation of the vacuum spark discharge. The effectiveness of plasma heating has been found to be significantly enhanced in the two vacuum spark systems studied here. In particular, the plasma of the 17.6 J system has been observed to be heated to a condition hot enough to emit in the X-ray region when the operating pressure is reduced from 10^-2 to 10^-5 mbar. Similarly, in the case of the 370 J system, hot spot formation is also observed to occur only at a low operating pressure of 10^-4 mbar     

Neutral copper vapor density and electric recovery after forcedextinction of vacuum arcs

Dielectric recovery data were obtained for vacuum arcs between chromium copper butt contacts 30 mm in diameter and 2 mm apart. The 50-Hz arc current was forced to zero at its maximum of 200 A in about 1 μs. Following current zero, high-voltage pulses of a sufficient amplitude to always cause breakdown were applied to the gap. Gap recovery is characterized by the measured breakdown voltage as a function of time. Dielectric strength of the gap rises sharply within the first few microseconds after current zero, reaching its final value in about 10 μs. Neutral copper concentration in the center of the gap was measured by laser-induced fluorescence under conditions very similar to those of the recovery measurements. In contrast to the fast gap recovery, the copper vapor concentration does not change substantially during the first 100 μs from its value of 1.4×10¹⁸ m ^-3 near current zero. It is concluded that the neutral copper vapor concentration does not play a decisive role in gap recovery under these experimental conditions. This is corroborated by the fact that the mean free path for electron-impact ionization of copper atoms exceeds the gap length by four orders of magnitude     

Factors affecting and methods of improving the pulse repetitionfrequency of pulse-charged and DC-charged high-pressure gasswitches

The results of this paper describe some of the factors which affect the repetitive operation of high-pressure gas switches (spark gaps) for both pulse-charged and DC-charged operation. Also discussed are methods which may be employed to improve the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of spark gaps operating under such conditions. Under pulse-charged conditions, the voltage recovery process of the spark gap has been shown to be restricted following partial density recovery by the residual ion population. This restriction may be minimized by applying a suitable bias voltage across the gap to remove the ion influence. It is also possible to manipulate the voltage-pressure (V-p) breakdown characteristic of a spark gap in order to improve the rate of rise of recovery voltage by reducing the recovery voltage dependence upon gas pressure. The combination of these effects has been shown to reduce the voltage recovery time of pulse-charged spark gaps from several hundred milliseconds to several milliseconds. Under DC-charged conditions, where no “dead time” is available for voltage recovery, it is possible to employ corona discharge effects, which occur in highly nonuniform fields, to stabilize and control the breakdown process. The use of corona stabilization has enabled the operation of a self-closing spark gap at a PRF of more than 5 kHz, without employing gas flow techniques. A triggered version of a corona-stabilized spark gap has also been developed which has demonstrated single run capabilities of 10⁷ (4 h continuous operation at 700 pps) and a lifetime of ~10 shots (maintenance free, sealed switch). The triggered corona switch has also demonstrated controlled switching up to a PRF of 1.2 kHz     

Measurements of the behaviour of neutral atom density in a diffusevacuum arc by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF)

The method of laser-induced fluorescence was used to study the behavior of the absolute neutral vapor density of a diffuse vacuum arc on FeCu contacts. The local and temporal resolutions were 1 mm³ and 10 μs, respectively. The arc current had a sinusoidal shape of 5.8-ms duration with peak values of 90 and 510 A. It was found that the maximum densities of the iron and copper atoms are 1.2×10 ¹⁷ m^-3 and 7.5×10¹⁷ m^-3, respectively. During the arc the density was correlated with the current. At current zero the measured densities decreased to 10 ¹⁶ m^-3. After current zero, an exponential density decay with a time constant of about 100 μs was observed, indicating the recovery of dielectric strength after current zero. Measurements of the neutron iron vapor density at different spatial positions in the electrode gap reveal a nonisotropic distribution. From the measurements of the population distribution of the iron ground-state multiplet a ⁵D, the excitation temperature was derived. This temperature was low compared with the cathode spot temperature 2500-4000 K and decreased from 1600 K at the current maximum to 1000 K at current zero. The results indicate that the generation of neutrals is caused by flying evaporating metal droplets rather than by molten surface areas     

Laser Interferometric Measurements of a Laser-Preionization-Triggered Spark Column

A KrF laser (248 nm) is used to volume preionization trigger a 40-100-kV, > 10-kA, 100-ns spark gap switch. This method of triggering creates reproducible and axisymmetric spark columns having low temporal and spatial jitter. A short pulse (< 5 ns) tunable dye laser and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer are used to obtain spatial and temporal measurements of the spark column. The spatial resolution of the interferograms is better than 5 ?m. The fringe shifts of the interferograms are used to calculate the electron and heavy particle density distributions within the spark column as a function of time during the spark. Results are presented for sparks in 5-percent SF6/ 20-percent N2/75-percent He and 1-percent Xe/99-percent H2 gas mixtures. Dc and pulsed self-breakdown voltages are also measured in order to provide a reference for the laser-triggered results. Data on laser-triggering reliability and spark breakdown delay time are also presented.     

Over recovery in low pressure spark gaps-confirmation of pressurereduction in over recovery

The over recovery in sparkgaps (Nagesh, 1997, Nagesh et al., 1999) operating along the left-hand side of Paschens' characteristics is due to pressure reduction in the gap after the first pulse discharge. This pressure reduction leading to over recovery in low pressure spark gaps has been verified using a low pressure spark gap with two spark gaps placed one above the other in the same chamber. The breakdown voltage strength characteristics of the second gap has been determined for gap spacings of 3.5 mm to 10 mm, diffusion of plasma in the direction of vacuum pumping and opposite, at a pressure of 2.1 Pa for hydrogen gas. The vacuum pumping direction has a great influence on the breakdown strength characteristics of second gap after the first gap discharge. The breakdown voltage of the second gap can exceed its self breakdown voltage only 1) when the diffusion of plasma and vacuum pumping direction are same and 2) when the second gap spacing is greater than or equal to first gap spacing. Shorter gaps can always have breakdown voltage lower than or equal to their self breakdown voltage. The experimental setups, behavior of self breakdown voltages of second gap due to breakdown in the first gap, over recovery characteristics of spark gaps, the results, and discussions are presented here     

Charge state and residence time of metal ions generated from amicrosecond vacuum arc

Metal ions generated from a microsecond vacuum arc were measured using a time-of-flight (TOF) method. A point-plane vacuum gap was fired by an impulse voltage to generate metal ions. The risetime and time constant for the decay of the arc current were 0.1 and 4.5 μs, respectively. TOF ion currents were measured for variable ion extraction times after the arc ignition. At a lead cathode, Pb⁺ and Pb ⁺⁺ ions were detected for ion extraction times less than 45 μs. The average charge-state fractions of the Pb⁺ and Pb ⁺⁺ ions were 91 and 9%, respectively. At a copper cathode, Cu ⁺, Cu⁺⁺, and Cu⁺⁺⁺ ions were detected for ion-extraction times less than 12.5 μs, and the average charge-state fractions were 42, 41, and 17%, respectively. The residence times of the generated lead and copper ions were also discussed     

Effect of boron ion implantation on the structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnSe thin films

Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) thin films were deposited onto well cleaned glass substrates using vacuum evaporation technique under a vacuum of 3×10⁻⁵ mbar. The prepared ZnSe samples were implanted with mass analyzed 75 keV B⁺ ions at different doses ranging from 10¹² to 10¹⁶ ions cm⁻². The composition, thickness, microstructures, surface roughness and optical band gap of the as-deposited and boron-implanted films were studied by Rutherford backscattering (RBS), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, Atomic force microscopy, Raman scattering and transmittance measurements. The RBS analysis indicates that the composition of the as-deposited and boron-implanted films is nearly stoichiometric. The thickness of the as-deposited film is calculated as 230 nm. The structure of the as-deposited and boron-implanted thin films is cubic. It is found that the surface roughness increases on increasing the dose of boron ions. In the optical studies, the optical band gap value decreases with an increase of boron concentration. In the electrical studies, the prepared device gave a very good response in the blue wavelength region.     

Measurement of the tungsten ion concentration after forcedextinction of a vacuum arc

The concentrations of singly ionized and neutral tungsten atoms were measured by laser-induced fluorescence after the forced extinction of vacuum arcs between tungsten-copper butt contacts, 28-mm in diam. and 10-mm apart. The 50-Hz current was forced to zero at its maximum of 200 A in 1.3 μs by application of a reverse voltage. Near current zero, the ion concentration of 4×10¹⁷ m^-3 is of the same order of magnitude as the atomic tungsten concentration, which is 6×10¹⁷ m^-3. While the concentration of the neutrals remains virtually constant during 20 μs after current zero, the ion concentration decays by three orders of magnitude in the same time. The decay-time constant varies from 1.9 μs close to the postarc cathode to 3.6 μs near the postarc anode. It is concluded that the dielectric recovery of vacuum gaps after diffuse arcs is mainly controlled by residual charge carriers     

Observation of enhanced prebreakdown electron beams in a vacuumspark with a hollow-cathode configuration

The generation of prebreakdown electron beams in a low-energy vacuum spark with a hollow-cathode configuration is observed under a range of experimental conditions. The vacuum spark studied is powered by either a 25-kV, 3.3-nF single capacitor discharge or a two-stage, 50-kV, 1.65-nF Marx. The electron beams are detected by observing the X-ray emission from the anode tip produced by electron impact. Results show that an electron beam is formed well before the onset of the electrical breakdown. This prebreakdown electron beam has an initial slow buildup phase followed by an exponential rise, leading to the breakdown of the discharge. This behavior of the electron beam evolution is in good qualitative agreement with the model simulation of the pseudospark phenomenon obtained for a transient hollow-cathode discharge     

Two-dimensional observation of copper vapor in vacuum arcs bylaser-induced fluorescence

The density distribution and the velocity of copper neutral atoms emitted from a single cathode spot in 40 A vacuum arc were measured by the two-dimensional (2-D) laser-induced fluorescence method. The density was calibrated from the two-dimensional fluorescence image observed by a CCD camera. The gap space was almost filled with the copper atoms, and the density reached 5×10¹⁹/m³. We varied the wavelength of the laser light and measured the velocity of the copper atoms emitted from the cathode spot using the effect of Doppler shift. The velocity of the copper atoms was about 10 km/s     

High current electron beam generation in a vacuum transient hollowcathode discharge

Experimental observations are presented of prebreakdown electron beam generation in a transient hollow cathode discharge (THCD) in a vacuum. The discharge driver consists of a 400-kV maximum voltage, 25-nF Marx operated at 450-J stored energy coupled to a 120-ns, 1.5-Ω coaxial line. Electron beams with peak currents up to tens of kA are observed when a pulsed Nd:YAG laser is used to produce a plasma at the back of the cathode surface, inside the hollow cathode region (HCR). It is found that a plasma density of a few 10¹⁸ cm^-3 in a volume of a few mm³ is required to generate intense electron beams. Optimal conditions are determined by varying the position of the laser focal spot inside the HCR and the time delay between the laser and the applied voltage. The main features of the electron beams are similar to those observed in conventional THCD at pressures in the 10-200 mtorr range     

The burning voltage of a high-current vacuum arc in a six-cap rodelectrode system

This paper studies the voltage-current characteristics of the six-gap rod electrode system and their dependence on the shape and material of the electrodes and interelectrode gap value. The investigations were carried out for currents up to 200 kA with the rate of its rise up to ~5·10⁹ A/s. A number of features were observed concerning arc-burning voltage dynamics depending on the value and rate of rise of the arc current, namely, a step-like voltage change at an initial discharge burning stage, and excitation of HF voltage oscillations for the discharge current wavefront. The duration and intensity of the unstable discharge burning phase accompanied by HF voltage oscillations depend strongly on the electrode system parameters. Power dissipated in the vacuum gaps and full dissipated energy were calculated as a function of the switching current peak. Results of the investigations give the possibility of designing a sealed-off triggered vacuum switch with minimum power losses and long service life evaluated by a transferred charge value >10⁶ C     

Experimental Results from SHIVA Star Vacuum Inductive Store/Plasma Flow Switch Drven Implosions

Using a 1313-?F, 3-nH, 120-kV, 9.4-MJ SHIVA Star capacitor bank, we have performed vacuum inductive store/plasma flow switch (PFS) driven implosions of low mass (200-400 ?g/cm2) cylindrical foil liners of 2-cm height and 5-cm radius. This technique employs a coaxial discharge through a plasma armature, which stores magnetic energy over 3-4 ?s and rapidly switches it to an imploding load as the plasma armature exits the coaxial gun muzzle. The current transferred to the load by the PFS has a rise time of less than 0.2 ?s. With 5-MJ stored energy, we have driven fast liner implosions with a current of over 9 MA, obtaining an isotropic equivalent 2.7-TW 0.5-MJ X-ray yield.     

Initial stage of discharge current growth in a triggered vacuum gap

The dynamics of light emission accompanying the initial stage of electric discharge in a substantially undervoltaged vacuum gap was studied with a knock-down model using high-speed photorecording. Voltage across the gap was maintained within the range of 0.5-5 kV, which corresponded to the minimum operating voltage of vacuum-triggered gaps. It was found that front layers of a plasma cloud near a cathode, formed by a firing pulse, scattered at a speed of (5-8)×10⁶ cm/s. During firing, a channel directed to the opposite electrode was formed from the plasma cloud near the cathode. It was found that the average switch-on delay time of the triggered vacuum gap is ~d(1+h/d) I_f^-α, where d is the interelectrode gap length, h is the trigger assembly penetration height, and I_f is the firing current     

Experimental observation of high-voltage, low-current vacuum arcs

A poorly explored type of discharge has been investigated in high vacuum (10^-7 to 10^-6 torr), with a DC high voltage across 0.2- to 0.8-mm gaps. The discharge has been found to be quite different from other widely known types of vacuum and gas discharges by the combination of its voltage-current characteristics (hyperbola-type), source and carriers of current (mostly electrons), and spatial potential distribution (a considerable electric field across the gap and a steep potential fall near the cathode)     

Pulse intense metal-ion diode with a vacuum arc plasma anode

An intense pulsed ion beam of metal was extracted from a magnetically insulated ion diode operated in a mode of plasma prefill generated from a vacuum arc discharge, anode plasma source. With this ion diode, an intense metal-ion beam of a high melting-point metal (Ta) was obtained. A variety of operational modes appeared, depending on the amount of plasma in the diode gap at the initiation of the high-voltage pulse. The energy, current, and duration time of the ion beam were 20~100 keV, ~1 kA, and 1 μs, respectively. Measurements of ions were performed with an ion energy analyzer or a biased ion collector located at the end of a long drift tube and a Thomson parabola ion spectrometer. The Ta ions in the first to fifth states of ionization were detected accompanied by C⁺, O⁺, F⁺, and H⁺ . A Ta ion beam current of about half the total ion flux was obtained in this experiment     

HL-2M装置真空室预装阶段检漏试验

通过在加工现场和安装现场搭建的真空辅助系统、四极质谱计及氦检漏仪组成的检漏系统,运用残余气体分析和氦质谱检漏方法在冷态下对HL-2M真空室扇形段及真空室整体进行了真空检漏试验.对漏点进行修复后,测试了真空室的极限真空度和总漏气率等.真空室经过72h的抽气后,真空度达到3.7×10?5Pa,超过了1.0×10?4Pa的预...