Delay and jitter characteristic of the laser triggered multi-stage multi-channel switch

The dependences of the delay and jitter of the laser triggered multistage multi-channel switch on the energy of laser pulse, voltage, gas species and pressure were reported in this paper. The experimental phenomena was illustrated by a 0-demension model in which the delay of the laser triggered gap was calculated by a “2-2”model and the delay of the self-breakdown gaps was calculated by T.H.Martin formulas adjusted by Levinson’s data. The laser ionization mechanism in gas indicated by “2-2”model as 2-photon excitation metastable state of gas particles was followed by 2-photon ionization of the excited gas particles. The delay and jitter decreased as the energy of laser pulse, voltage, pressure increased, and increased as the percentage of SF6 in SF6-N2, SF6-Ar mixtures increased. The