Abstract

The rapid progress of inductive energy storage circuits as pulsed power systems has required the development of new opening switches.^1,2 These switches should be fast, capable of handling high power, and, in many applications, high repetition rate, and jitter free. Among the switches being commonly used, many have the following drawbacks: slow turn-off time, single-shot operation, short closing period, low repetition rate, and inaccurate triggering. The unique characteristics of light-activated semiconductor switches make them prime candidates for repetitive opening switches. Since the switch is activated by a laser using the photoconductivity effect, it is jitter free. Using bulk semiconductors of large size, these switches can withstand high voltage and current, as has been demonstrated already for closing switches.³ We recently demonstrated for the first time the operation of a semiconductor repetitive opening switch in an inductive energy storage circuit using a lumped inductor and capacitor.⁴

© 1986 Optical Society of America