Increasing the energy of the initiating spark discharge in order to reduce and stabilize the delay time in a compact vacuum breaker

The similarity of the switching mechanisms of compact vacuum spark breakers and spark breakers with laser ignition is established at a comparable level of energy flux density in the ignition node–ionization of the residual gas by a stream of short-wave radiation and fast electrons from the cathode spot plasma or laser plasma. This mechanism allows you to effectively reduce the delay in triggering the spark gap by increasing the ignition energy. An experimental study of the advantages of using an ignition circuit with increased energy for controlling small-sized vacuum spark breakers is carried out. There is a steady decrease in the delay time of the spark gap and an increase in the level of delay stability. From the point of view of minimization and stability of the delay time of the spark gap, the energy investment in the formation of the initiating plasma occurs most effectively at the spark stage of the auxiliary discharge along the surface of the dielectric in the ignition node.

Minimization of the delay time and its spread in a compact vacuum breaker

The similarity of the switching mechanisms of compact vacuum spark breakers and spark breakers with laser ignition is established at a comparable level of energy flux density in the ignition node–ionization of the residual gas by a stream of short-wave radiation and fast electrons from the cathode spot plasma or laser plasma. This mechanism allows you to effectively reduce the delay in triggering the spark gap by increasing the ignition energy. An experimental study of the advantages of using an ignition circuit with increased energy for controlling small-sized vacuum spark breakers is carried out. There is a steady decrease in the delay time of the spark gap and an increase in the level of delay stability. From the point of view of minimization and stability of the delay time of the spark gap, the energy investment in the formation of the initiating plasma occurs most effectively at the spark stage of the auxiliary discharge along the surface of the dielectric in the ignition node.

Экспериментальное обнаружение признаков кулоновского взрыва в плазме микропинча

A flow of ions with energies of about 3 MeV propagating in the direction perpendicular to the symmetry axis of discharge has been detected in high-current low inductance vacuum spark. Estimations show that the measured ion energies quite well correspond to the value that can be achieved as a result of “Coulomb explosion” of the waist of a plasma channel of discharge current at the stage preceding its radiation compression.