Triggering Mechanism of a Laser-Triggered Spark Gap

The Study of Breakdown Voltages for Triggered Spark Gap Switches

This study explains the breakdown mechanism in different triggered spark gap switches. Two different trigger electrode configurations are tested for the switch predischarge operation in a nitrogen laser circuit. The behavior of the breakdown voltage, when a trigger pulse is applied to the trigger electrode, is investigated, and the results are reported. Based on the experimental measurements ne...

A simple high-voltage high current spark gap with subnanosecond jitter triggered by femtosecond laser filamentation

We describe a simple, sturdy and reliable spark gap operating with air at atmospheric pressure and able to switch currents in excess of 10 kA with sub-nanosecond jitter. The spark gap is remotely triggered by a femtosecond laser filament. Many applications rely on the initiation of a well controlled discharge between two charged electrodes. For high current applications, a gas-filled trigger is...

Physical mechanism of triggering in trigatron spark gaps

Triggering of Trigatron Spark Gaps

The trigatron has been in widespread use as a demand-triggered, high-voltage switch for more than 40 years. In spite of the popularity and maturity of the technology, there persists an uncertainty over the basic physical mechanism(s) responsible for triggering breakdown in the devices. We present the results of an empirical study which directly demonstrate that in the normal operating region of...

Triggering, guiding and deviation of long air spark discharges with femtosecond laser filament

B. Forestier, A. Houard, I. Revel, M. Durand, Y.B. André, B. Prade, A. Jarnac, J. Carbonnel, M. Le Nevé, J.C. de Miscault, B. Esmiller, D. Chapuis, and A. Mysyrowicz 1 Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée, ENSTA ParisTech, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Palaiseau, 91761, France 2 EADS France, Innovation Works, France 3 CILAS, Laser sources development and Industrialization, Orléans, France 4 ASTRIUM, Sp...