HIGH-VOLTAGE PULSE GENERATORS AND SPARK GAP FOR GASEOUS DISCHARGE CONTROL

High voltage trigger pulses are required for initiating conduction in triggered spark gaps, xenon flashtubes, or to provide an ignition type pulse for other special devices requiring a high impedance voltage source. This work describes the design, construction and operation of three prototypes: two high-voltage pulse generators and a spark-gap. For the first generator the FWHM was 28.9 mu s with an amplitude of 20.8 kV at frequencies of 1-12 Hz. For the second generator, the amplitude varied between 20-40 kV with a FWHM of 750 ns and rise-times of 820 ns at a frequency of 0.3-18 Hz. The spark gap driven by these generators works at voltages. of up to 20 kV. In our case the generators and the spark-gap were used to control laser gaseous discharges.