Theoretical investigation of a photoconductively switched high-voltage spark gap

In this contribution, a photoconductively switched high-voltage spark gap with an emphasis on theswitching behavior is modeled. It is known experimentally that not all of the voltage that is present at the input of the spark gap is switched, but rather a fraction of it drops across the spark gap. This voltage drop depends on the voltage that is present at the input of the spark gap with higher voltages resulting in a smaller drop. We have investigated two possible causes of this: the cathode fall and the resistance of the plasma arc. Using an analytical model of the cathode fall, we have established that the cathode fall can be excluded as the cause of the observed voltage drop. A one-dimensional, time-dependent non-local thermal equilibrium fluid model of the arc plasma has been made. Using this model, the plasma properties have been analyzed for various values of the switched current with emphasis on the conductivity. A good qualitative match between the observed and the simulated dissipation in the gap was found. This indicates that the finite arc resistance is the cause of the observed voltage drop.