Research On The Characteristics Of GaAs PCSS Triggering Spark Gap Over-Voltage Breakdown

Based on the characteristics of the GaAs photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) and the spark gap, a novel combined switch is developed. The combined switch integrates a traditional GaAs PCSS and a normal spark gap. The GaAs PCSS is a good candidate for triggering spark gap due to its ultra-fast rising pulse, high current and high-speed response to laser pulse. The spark gap which triggered by ultra-fast high-voltage pulse have the following advantages:higher voltage pulse with shorter rising time and time jitter obtained by the spark gap. In this paper, base on the experiment result, we compared the combined switch with the single PCSS and single spark gap and analyzed the differences among the three switches, explained the special phenomenon of the output wave such as the shock wave, and the time delayed of the output wave. The traditional Rompe-Weizel spark resistance model can not explain the phenomenon of combined switch experiment well. The paper analyzed the factors that change the spark resistance of combined switch and rebuilds the spark resistance model. The new model can explain the phenomenon of combined switch experiment well.