Features of the pseudospark switch operation at a low anode voltage

Summary form only given, as follows. The sealed-off pseudospark switches are considered as an advanced alternative to thyratrons, ignitrons, and vacuum switches in facilities that require a fast current rise and a small jitter. The main drawbacks of the pseudospark devices are associated with the current quenching and the current chopping phenomena and with a rather high forward voltage drop in the initial stages of the commuting current. These drawbacks are especially characteristic of a range of a moderate operating voltage (from 1 to 5 W) and a low current level (less than 1 kA). The present paper describes the recent results on development the sealed-off switches intended to minimize the above drawbacks. The general principles for constructing the switches with a low discharge burning voltage in the stages of dense and superdense glow discharge are discussed. The principles are illustrated by the results of development of the switches. In particular, for the switch with a trigger unit based on an auxiliary glow discharge the forward voltage drop is reduced to 200 V with an initial anode voltage of about 1 kV.