PLASMA CURRENT INTERRUPTER Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: heavy-pulse engineering. SUBSTANCE: device that may be used for high-voltage, terawatt-power pulse generators feeding heavy-current charged-particle accelerators, Z-pinch loads, and the like has current pulse source connected to two extended electrodes which are separated by insulator and form with the latter vacuum gap; load in the form of vacuum or plasma diode connected to electrodes; at least one plasma injector mounted on one of electrodes and depending for its operation on surface discharge along plasma injector ferroelectric used as insulation. Amplitude of pulses applied to electrodes of surface-discharge plasma injectors is essentially reduced at same density and amount of plasma produced by them. EFFECT: reduced energy cost for plasma generation; enhanced efficiency of interrupter. 3 dwg