On the recovery of a spark gap in a fast discharge circuit

We have shown theoretically that the maximum repetition rate attainable wit h a switch for both resistive and resonant charging is independent of the v alue of energy transferred through the switch in case of a very fast discha rge. Experimental confirmation of this has been achieved with a resistively charged 20 kV pulse generator (C was varied from to congruent to 5 to 35 n F) switched by a spark gap into a load whose resistance varied from few ohm s to a k Omega. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(98)0301 2-3].