Peculiarities of the mechanism of subnanosecond switching of high-voltage pulses in eptron

The initial stage of breakdown in a switching device based on capillary discharge with plasma cathode (eptron) has been investigated. The discharge in the switch develops in two stages due to different mechanisms of plasma creation in the capillary and plasma cathode, which leads to the reflection of the ionization wave from the weakly ionized plasma of the cathode. Increasing its concentration by means of pulse repetition rate, initiating pulse energy, and gas pressure variation suppresses voltage fluctuations on the load and brings both discharge stages closer, enabling subnanosecond switching times.