Coordinated research program in pulsed power physics

The work on eight program elements related to pulsed power research over the past four years is summarized. These program elements form a multi-disciplinary, coordinated program whose main emphasis is to gain improved understanding of high power, repetitive closing and opening switches. The main emphasis is concerned with triggering of discharges in gas filled spark gaps and the associated electrode erosion and insulator damage. Considerable efforts are also being made to understand the limitations and fundamental discharge phenomena in fast opening switches for inductive energy storage. A novel electromechanical pulse generator which promises to deliver fast, repetitive pulses has also been investigated. The major, overall, accomplishments in each program element are summarized and last year's work is described in some detail.