Simulation of laser triggered gas switch with cylindrical electrodes on pre-breakdown stage

The PIC-MCC simulation of a laser triggered gas switch (LTGS) with cylindrical electrodes has been conducted with XOOPIC code by adding electron-SF6 collision cross section data. The LTGS works as the main switch of the pre-amplifier of Heaven-Light Ⅰ Laser generator. The paper presents the simulation results of the streamer formation on pre-breakdown stage of the gas switch, show that the initial radius of arc is 250 μm and the time at which the ions reach the cathode is about 0.15 ns. It also outlines the simulation conditions and some necessary assumptions and their effects on simulation results. The PIC-MCC simulation is intended to obtain the initial conditions needed by circuit simulation of the arc resistance and to predict the breakdown time of the gas switch. The simulation prod