Calculations of the time-dependent behavior of the reflex triode opening switch

Abstract

A one-dimensional computer simulation was used to study time-dependent phenomena in the power gaps of reflex triodes used as high power opening switches. Constant gap voltage was assumed. It was found that current was carried by space-charge-limited electron flow through an enlarging cathode sheath. The sheath width was governed by erosion of the initial ion distribution through bipolar space-charge flow. The results suggest analytic formulae that may be applied to models of triode behavior with more complex driving circuits.