Dielectric-liquid pulsed power switch

Abstract

Room-temperature fast dielectric liquids with electron conduction bands (V/sub 0/<0 eV; e.g., neopentane, tetramethylsilane, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane and their mixtures) are electrically active insulators and have potential as controlled conduction media in pulsed power switching devices. The authors explore the possibility of using a dielectric liquid as the switching medium in pulsed power generation and especially the possibility of switching a good dielectric liquid to a good conductor by photo-injecting excess electrons into it using a flash lamp. Preliminary calculations indicate that conduction currents due to excess electrons in the kA range are achievable with reasonable efficiencies. It is concluded that a dielectric-liquid pulsed power switch can be cheap, can carry high currents, and can sustain high voltages; it can be more efficient than laser or e-beam, more stable than solid state or gas, and more compact than gas.<>