High-speed switch-on of a semiconductor gas discharge image converter using optimal control methods

Experiments evidence that optical commutation of current in semiconductor g as discharge devices from a low to a high value may be accompanied by an os cillatory mode of such a transient and by a long effective time for the tra nsition. Fbr a simple two-component model of transport processes in these n onlinear systems, which encounter the main observed features in dynamics, t he problem of minimizing the time of switching on the high current state is considered. This problem can be formulated as an optimal control problem w ith control function provided by a proper temporal variation of the feeding voltage. It is shown that the optimal control can substantially shorten th e effective transient time of the process and totally suppress the occurren ce of an overshooting in a transient. Optimal control strategies for constr aints on control and state variables and for different parameters are prese nted. (C) 2001 Academic Press.