High repetitive switching of parallel micro-plasma spark gaps

Micro-plasma high-pressure spark gaps have been investigated for the generation of ultra wideband (UWB) microwave pulses. Such micro-plasma spark gaps are characterized by sub-ns current rise-times and high peak power output of short impulses. The peak power of the short impulses at a resistive load for 1 MHz repetition rate, generated by a single micro-plasma spark gap system, is limited due its relatively low breakdown voltage. In order to overcome this problem, the single spark gap is replaced by an array of multiple micro-plasma spark gaps in parallel. These experiments were dedicated to improve the overall repetition rate, the peak power as well as the average power of the output impulses. Some results are presented from experiments with two micro-plasma spark gaps system. Finally, results are reported from experiments of switching four micro-plasma spark gaps in parallel. Different configurations of the array system are studied in order to improve a capacitive type coupling effect among spark gaps.