PCSS Assembly
High-Power Photoconductive Semiconductor Switch Assembly
High-Power PCSS Assembly
The High-Power Photoconductive Semiconductor Switch (PCSS) Assembly consists of a compact Optical Engine (OE), together with a Photoconductive Semiconductor Switch (PCSS). The PCSS Assembly is triggered by a miniature Laser Diode Array (LAD) chip, resulting in a sharp current with a rise-time as short as 0.3 ns. The PCSS Assembly represents the core of Eureka Aerospace’s High-Power PCSS-based High-Power Microwave System (HPMS).
According to our estimation, each PCSS Assembly is capable of conducting approximately 1 kA of current, with a duration of tens of nanoseconds long, while achieving a lifetime of several million shots. One of the most defining advantages of the PCSS-based assembly over spark-gap switches is the possibility of a precise synchronization of the switches' triggering time. Our experimentation shows that there is only a small sub-nanosecond jitter when multiple PCSS Assemblies are being collectively triggered. This is especially crucial for the enhancement of the total current going through multiple PCSS Assemblies.
The PCSS Assembly is self-sufficient and, when triggered individually or combined, can be used in several applications and research areas, such as the design of voltage and current pulsers, plasma research and etc.
According to our estimation, each PCSS Assembly is capable of conducting approximately 1 kA of current, with a duration of tens of nanoseconds long, while achieving a lifetime of several million shots. One of the most defining advantages of the PCSS-based assembly over spark-gap switches is the possibility of a precise synchronization of the switches' triggering time. Our experimentation shows that there is only a small sub-nanosecond jitter when multiple PCSS Assemblies are being collectively triggered. This is especially crucial for the enhancement of the total current going through multiple PCSS Assemblies.
The PCSS Assembly is self-sufficient and, when triggered individually or combined, can be used in several applications and research areas, such as the design of voltage and current pulsers, plasma research and etc.
