Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Measurment of the plasma electron density of a trigatron switch

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Majid Aram
Nader Morshedian
Sajad Asadi
Ismaeil Eslami
Fariba Mansouri
Abstract
Because of its wide applications in plasma based equipment, plasma parameters of a trigatron switch are investigated with the intention of the switch optimization. The theoretical method is based on the simulation of a closed switch discharge circuit, included the main capacitor, total circuit inductance, and plasma resistance, in an under damped oscillator. The charging voltage is between 6 to 15 kilovolts, the switch pressure is between 1 to 1.5 atmospheres and the gap is 1.4 or 2.8 mm. The density of the discharge plasma of the switch in self-breakdown mode is determined using the recorded time varying voltage and the switch current. The obtained electron density of plasma is (0.5-3.5)×1024 per cubic meter, which is in good agreement with the results published in standard references for arc and spark plasma in atmospheric pressure, based on the streamers mechanism.
 
 

Keywords

Trigatron switch
Electron density
Plasma
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