Remote triggering of high voltage systems by laser-induced plasmas

N. J. West; I. R. Jandrell; A. Forbes

doi:10.1117/12.794083

3 September 2008 Remote triggering of high voltage systems by laser-induced plasmas

N. J. West, I. R. Jandrell, A. Forbes

Proceedings Volume 7070, Optical Technologies for Arming, Safing, Fuzing, and Firing IV; 70700I (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.794083
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to compare the electrical performance of an orthogonally with a coaxially laser-triggered spark gap. Each of these two gaps has its own advantages and disadvantages. At the same time, a Rogowski profile spark gap was investigated in terms of its orthogonally laser-triggered performance. It was found that the Nd:YAG laser used (1 064 nm, 800 mJ) was able to reduced the breakdown voltage of a 50 mm gap by 70% from 135 kV to about 40 kV. The position of the laser-induced plasma was found to play a significant role in the breakdown process - best results being obtained when the laser was focused in the centre of the gap. Finally, the shape of the laser-induced arc is dependant on the applied electric field. When the field is low, the arc tends to avoid the laser-induced plasma thus exhibiting a very anomalous behaviour. When the field is increased, the arc tends to attach itself to the plasma as expected.

Citation Download Citation

N. J. West, I. R. Jandrell, and A. Forbes "Remote triggering of high voltage systems by laser-induced plasmas", Proc. SPIE 7070, Optical Technologies for Arming, Safing, Fuzing, and Firing IV, 70700I (3 September 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.794083

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