THE BREAKDOWN MECHANISM OF A MID-PLANE TRIGGERED SPARK GAP TRIGATRON

A mid-plane triggered spark gap trigatron prototype with adjustable ma in gap distance and replaceable trigger electrode was constructed and experimentally investigated. The electric parameter measurements, the luminosity measurements and the streak image converter camera were use d to study the breakdown mechanism. Electric field distribution in the gap was calculated for the trigatron static and dynamic conditions. T he experimental results and analysis show that the space charge around the trigger electrode plays an important role in the breakdown proces s. Because of the ultra violet irradiation and the existing discharge channel of the first gap segment breakdown, the second gap segment bre akdown is much faster. For a mid-plane triggered spark gap trigatron, the optimization of the electric field distribution under dynamic cond ition can increase the dynamic triggering range appreciably.