A New Type of Lightning Arrester Applied to Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic Communication Systems

Very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic communication systems operate at high frequencies and diverse voltage levels, demanding lightning arresters with low distributed capacitance and rapid response times. This paper introduces a novel arrester incorporating a closed pressurized gas gap in series, optimizing gas pressure, spacing, and gas type to reduce conduction delay and dynamic breakdown voltage without altering the $\mathbf{5 0 \%}$ breakdown voltage. Theoretical analysis and simulations demonstrate that the design meets VLF system requirements while preserving signal integrity.