Photoconductive power switches
Abstract
The advantages and the potential of photoconductive switches applied to high power systems are outlined. The photoconductive effect can be used to switch large amounts of energy by changing the conductivity of a solid state circuit element many orders of magnitude with a high power laser. The simplicity of these devices offers many advantages in high power applications when combined with high power pulsed lasers. The surge capability, the switched energy gain, and the maximum average power for photoconductive power switches are discussed and the results of a 100-kV, 100-MW photoconductive switch experiment transferring 20 J in 200 ns are presented.
- Publication:
-
Presented at the 27th Ann. Intern. Tech. Symp. on High Speed Phot
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983hspv.symp.....N
- Keywords:
-
- Neodymium Lasers;
- Photoconductors;
- Semiconductors (Materials);
- Silicon;
- Switches;
- Design;
- Fabrication;
- Gallium Arsenides;
- High Voltages;
- Indium Phosphides;
- Pulse Generators;
- Instrumentation and Photography