A high-current pulse generator SIGNAL with an inductive energy storage anda microsecond plasma opening switch

The primary energy storage in the SIGNAL installation is a 4.7-muF capacito r bank with a stored energy of up to 24 kJ switched by a gas-discharge gap switch of the trigatron type. The plasma source and the design of the micro second plasma opening switch ensure current Row through this switch and ind uctive storage for a time of up to 1.7 mus The current amplitude reaches 33 0 kA. The current switched to the load is 20-300 kA in various modes with a rise time of 10-200 ns. The voltage across the feedthrough insulator reach es 400 kV. The installation is used in experimental studies of linear pinch es, capillary discharge, and microsecond plasma opening switches.