Gas Switch Triggered by Optical Pulse via Fiber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas switches require high-amplitude electric pulses or high-energy laser pulses for triggering, leading to complex and costly trigger systems that limit their application in pulse power devices.
Innovation Solution
A gas switch triggered by a low-energy optical pulse introduced through an optical fiber, utilizing a photoconductive switch connected in parallel to the trigger gap, with current-limiting and voltage-sharing resistors to manage the trigger process, simplifying the system and reducing energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-amplitude electric pulses are used to trigger the gas switch, then the trigger response is fast and reliable, but the trigger system becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional electric pulse triggering mechanism with an optical fiber-based triggering system. The optical fiber transmits light signals to activate the photoconductive crystal, which then generates the electric field necessary to trigger the gas switch. This substitution eliminates the need for complex high-voltage electric pulse generation and transmission systems, significantly reducing trigger system complexity while maintaining triggering reliability.
2Speed
If high-energy laser pulses are used to trigger the gas switch, then the trigger response is fast, but the optical path system becomes extremely complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a photoconductive crystal as an intermediary component between the optical fiber and the gas switch. The optical fiber transmits low-energy light signals to the photoconductive crystal, which then converts these signals into the necessary electric field changes to trigger the gas switch. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for complex high-energy laser optical path systems while maintaining fast trigger response speed.
3Reliability
If high-amplitude electric pulses or high-energy laser pulses are used for triggering, then the gas switch can be reliably activated, but the cost of the trigger system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive components for the triggering system, including standard optical fibers and photoconductive crystals that can be easily manufactured and replaced. This approach significantly reduces the overall system cost compared to traditional high-voltage electric pulse systems or high-energy laser systems, while maintaining reliable gas switch activation through the photoconductive effect.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for a simplified and cost-effective trigger system that can activate the gas switch with low-energy optical pulses, enhancing the reliability and applicability of gas switches in pulse power devices by reducing the complexity and energy demands of the trigger mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a photoconductive switch is connected in parallel to a trigger gap of a gas switch, and the photoconductive switch is triggered by using a low-energy optical pulse introduced by the optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a gas switch triggered by an optical pulse introduced by an optical fiber, which solves the problem of the existing electrically-triggered gas switch and laser-triggered gas having a complicated trigger system, being insufficiently reliable and having a higher cost due to the pulse amplitude/laser beam energy having higher requirements. The gas switch triggered by an optical pulse introduced by an optical fiber includes at least one trigger gap and one self-breakdown gap; each trigger gap is connected in parallel to a photoconductive switch, and an optical fiber is correspondingly provided for introducing an optical pulse for triggering. In the present disclosure, the advantages of a low trigger requirement of a photoconductive switch and a high voltage and large conduction current of a gas switch are fully utilized, and an optical pulse introduced by an optical fiber is used to trigger the photoconductive switch, so that the gas switch can be controlled and triggered under the action of a low-energy optical pulse (which can be less than 200 μJ) transmitted by optical fiber, thereby greatly simplifying the scale and complexity of the trigger system and promoting the development and application of the pulse power supply technology.