TY - GEN
T1 - Effects of gas temperature and gas mixtures on a triggered, sub-ns jitter, 50 kV, 100 Hz spark gap
AU - Chen, Y.
AU - Dickens, J.
AU - Mankowski, J.
AU - Kristiansen, M.
PY - 2010/12/1
Y1 - 2010/12/1
N2 - Recent research efforts at Texas Tech University on impulse antenna phased array have shown that an ideal jitter of a small fraction of the rise-time is required to accurately synchronize the array to steer and preserve the rise-time of the radiated pulse. This has necessitated the need to develop a reliable high voltage, high repetition rate switch that will operate with very low jitter. This manuscript presents the impact gases and gas mixtures have on switch performance which includes recovery rate and in particular jitter. A 50 , 1 nF pulse forming line is charged to 50 kV and provides the low inductance voltage source to test the different gases. Gases tested include N2, dry air, H2, and SF6, as well as N2-H 2, N2-SF6, N2-Ar, and gas mixtures containing Kr85. This manuscript will discuss in detail 50 kV, 100 Hz triggered switch operations of such gases. Switch jitter as a result of triggering conditions is also discussed, also including an evaluation of jitter as a function of formative delay in various gases. An evaluation of switch jitter as a function of operation time and gas temperature is also included. Triggering is provided by a solid state opening switch voltage source that supplies ∼150 kV, 10 ns rise-time pulses at a rep-rate up to 100 Hz in burst mode. A hermetically sealed spark gap with a Kel-F PCTFE (PolyCholoroTriFluoroEthylene) lining is used to house the switch and high pressure gas. It is shown that jitter is strongly dependent on the triggering technique, as well as the trigger magnitude, with ionization rates playing an important role. Sub-ns jitter is seen with a variety of gases and gas mixtures with H2 producing the best results. Varying the gas temperature and addition of radioactive sources are seen to improve the switch jitter.
AB - Recent research efforts at Texas Tech University on impulse antenna phased array have shown that an ideal jitter of a small fraction of the rise-time is required to accurately synchronize the array to steer and preserve the rise-time of the radiated pulse. This has necessitated the need to develop a reliable high voltage, high repetition rate switch that will operate with very low jitter. This manuscript presents the impact gases and gas mixtures have on switch performance which includes recovery rate and in particular jitter. A 50 , 1 nF pulse forming line is charged to 50 kV and provides the low inductance voltage source to test the different gases. Gases tested include N2, dry air, H2, and SF6, as well as N2-H 2, N2-SF6, N2-Ar, and gas mixtures containing Kr85. This manuscript will discuss in detail 50 kV, 100 Hz triggered switch operations of such gases. Switch jitter as a result of triggering conditions is also discussed, also including an evaluation of jitter as a function of formative delay in various gases. An evaluation of switch jitter as a function of operation time and gas temperature is also included. Triggering is provided by a solid state opening switch voltage source that supplies ∼150 kV, 10 ns rise-time pulses at a rep-rate up to 100 Hz in burst mode. A hermetically sealed spark gap with a Kel-F PCTFE (PolyCholoroTriFluoroEthylene) lining is used to house the switch and high pressure gas. It is shown that jitter is strongly dependent on the triggering technique, as well as the trigger magnitude, with ionization rates playing an important role. Sub-ns jitter is seen with a variety of gases and gas mixtures with H2 producing the best results. Varying the gas temperature and addition of radioactive sources are seen to improve the switch jitter.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80051762082&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/IPMHVC.2010.5958315
DO - 10.1109/IPMHVC.2010.5958315
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:80051762082
SN - 9781424471294
T3 - Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2010
SP - 145
EP - 150
BT - Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2010
Y2 - 23 May 2010 through 27 May 2010
ER -