A Multiplex Multi-Stage Surface Flashover Switch

<正> A new type of surface flashover switch,suitable for multiplex pulse generation,isstudied.The switch is composed of several parallel rail gaps(PRGs).Each multistage PRG iscomposed of several serial subgroup gaps(SSG)formed by intermediate electrodes.The triggerelectrode of the switch is a common electrode isolated from the main discharge circuit and locatedparallel to the central line of PRGs.The multistage scheme of PRG is helpful to multi-channeldischarge.The switch has some advantages,such as a low jitter,low conduct inductance andshort switching time.These advantages and the multiplex scheme make the switch suitable forshort frontal rising time pulse formation and accurate synchronization for a multi-module paralleloperation device.In a primary test,the jitter of the switch is about 3.3 ns.It has been appliedin a linear transformer device successfully.