ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL STUDIES OF A PSEUDO-SPARK SWITCH

This paper presents an optical diagnostic of the spatial and temporal evolution processes of a pseudo-spark discharge inside a pseudo-spark switch. The influence of the hollow cathode geometry and of the electr ode hole diameter is analysed. The discharge evolution is studied usin g time-resolved high-speed photography and time-resolved spectroscopy. A second luminous phenomenon, appearing inside the hollow cathode aft er the beginning of the main discharge, is shown and analysed. The vel ocity and the light front profile of this phenomenon are characteristi c of a shock front propagating from the cathode hole to the top of the cathodic chamber, after switching has occurred.