Heavy-current switch esp. for plasma X=ray sources - has spherical or otherwise bowl-shaped assembly of anode and enclosed cathode with aligned discharge openings

摘要

Gas-discharge channels (2) are formed by aligned openings (2',2") through concentric electrodes (3,4) sepd. by a fixed distance (a). The inner electrode (4) surrounds the cathode space (1) into which charge carriers are released by a trigger electrode through openings (10) in an electrode wall (9). The max. depth (t) of this space (1) is about equal to the max. distance (w) between any two channel openings (2') in the cathode (4), which are nowhere diametrically opposed to one another. USE/ADVANTAGE - At voltages up to several tens of kV, currents up to 500 kA increasing at moe than 1 TA/s can be switched very rapidly.