Study on the Trigger Mechanism of a Laser Triggered Vacuum Switch

According to the preliminary study, the laser triggered vacuum switch (LTVS) might be an advanced high-voltage, high-intensity pulse switch. It will have the advantages of short trigger conduction time and good isolation from the main circuit. The study of the trigger mechanism of LTVS is not only conducive to both the optimization and the miniaturization, and also beneficial to promoting its practical process. In this paper, the LTVS which has a composite trigger electrode made of potassium chloride and titanium is studied. The material loss on the focal spot of the trigger before and after the triggering process is compared by X-ray spectroscopy. Based on the result, the composition of the plasma mass generated by LTVS is analyzed. The trigger mechanism of LTVS is proposed for laser ablation and vaporization according to the physical phenomenon and the analysis. The research about the trigger mechanism of the LTVS is of great guiding significance for its optimization and application.