The influence of polarity on trigatron switching performance

This paper reports on a study into the effect of trigger voltage polarity and main gap voltage polarity on the switching performance of a pulse charged trigatron. The four polarity combinations possible, two homopolarity (trigger voltage and main gap voltage of the same polarity) and two heteropolarity (trigger voltage and main gap voltage of opposite polarity), were studied and compared in terms of their effect upon the switching range, delay time to breakdown, jitter, and voltage collapse time. It was found that the two heteropolarity configurations were superior to the homopolarity configurations in terms of the above switching characteristics, with the positive trigger/negative main gap heteropolarity configuration performing the best. The results are discussed, and an explanation of the influence of the polarity configuration on switching is suggested in terms of the discharge initiation mechanisms and subsequent development.