LOW-PRESSURE PSEUDOSPARK SWITCHES FOR ICF PULSED-POWER

Hollow-electrode pseudospark switches are gas-filed, low-pressure, hig h-current plasma switches which are based on cold cathode emission. Th ey have the capability to satisfy at least a part of switching require ments for different applications in ICF drivers. The main purpose of t he submitted paper is therefore to discuss the following realistic way s for the use of pseudospark switches. There are intense international activities aimed at investigating different approaches for the igniti on of an ICF capsule. Most of these efforts utilize lasers of varying wavelengths to deliver the energy to initiate the ablation of the targ et, the compression and ignition of the fuel, and the propagation of t he fusion burn. One alternative to this scheme is to provide the drive energy in form of a light ion beam produced by an efficient pulse pow er accelerator. A related method uses beams of heavy ion beams from hi gh intensity versions of traditional high-energy accelerators. Depende nt on the ICF driver for the power conditioning unit (PCU) arise total ly different demands. These extremely different requirements mainly re ly on the very specific character of the load. Flashlamps, pumping hig h power lasers represent a non-linear, low-impedance load. Relatively low switching: voltage is necessary, but a high charge-transfer capabi lity. Induction cells or magnetic compression units have a high impeda nce. Consequently high voltage (up to several 100 kV) is required to f eed the energy in Marx modules and the following voltage adders produc e megavolt voltages, which determines likewise the specific data of th e used switch. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.