Laser triggered high voltage rail gap switch

摘要

The laser-triggered high voltage rail gap switch includes two parallel electrodes in a high pressure environment of SF6 and Ar. A pulsed UV laser directs a coherent beam parallel to the electrodes to initiate multichannel breakdown in the gap between the electrodes. This breakdown occurs at a fixed time delay after the laser pulse. This breakdown is enhanced by including an organic additive such as fluorobenzene or tri-n-propylamine in the gas mixture.