In this research, an orthogonally laser-triggered spark gap is investigated. The laser beam is directed in the region of a 30mm spark gap at 90 degrees to the gap and focused on the axis. The influence of plasma position within the spark gap on breakdown strength was investigated. The experiments showed that the laser induced plasma was able to successfully trigger the gap, with breakdown voltage a function of plasma position. At the optimum position, the minimum breakdown voltage was 16.7kV. This represents 21% of the maximum withstand voltage of the gap. It was shown that the laser-induced plasma had a greater effect on the breakdown voltage of the spark gap in question than a single floating object of similar dimensions
Reference:
West, NJ, Jandrell, IR and Forbes, A. 2007. Preliminary investigation into the simulation of a laser-induced plasma by means of a floating object in a spark gap. 15th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 27-31 August, pp 6
West, N., Jandrell, I., & Forbes, A. (2007). Preliminary investigation into the simulation of a laser-induced plasma by means of a floating object in a spark gap. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3283
West, NJ, IR Jandrell, and A Forbes. "Preliminary investigation into the simulation of a laser-induced plasma by means of a floating object in a spark gap." (2007): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3283
West N, Jandrell I, Forbes A, Preliminary investigation into the simulation of a laser-induced plasma by means of a floating object in a spark gap; 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3283 .