Comparison of Gaussian and Weibull models used for gas switch self-breakdown probability analysis

Gaussian and Weibull functions which are used to analyze self-breakdown probabilities of a gas switch are compared. Following an experiment, the self-breakdown voltages of a multi-stage switch are verified to apply a Gaussian distribution as well as a Weibull distribution, and then these two distributions are determined by using a parameter estimation method. The self-breakdown probability analysis shows that the results of these two models are in good agreement. For the same voltage, the difference of the self-breakdown probabilities given by these two methods is normally 1%, and the difference is no more than 2% for the probability greater than 90%. For the same self-breakdown probability, the calculated voltages using these two models have a difference of not more than 0.3%.