New concepts for high current self-sustained diffuse discharge closing switches

Novel switching concepts that potentially can increase the efficiency and stability of high-current diffuse discharges when used in repetitive fast-closing-switch applications are described. High-efficiency current switching, temperature-enhanced current switching, and efficient room-temperature glow-discharges are discussed. It is shown that the use of electronegative gases in which the variation of the effective ionization coefficient near the limiting value of E/N (E/N_lim is minimal will enhance the stability of the discharge, whereas the addition of a rare gas buffer will lead to more efficient current switching. In addition, the energy deposited in the gas of a power-loaded discharge can be used to reduce the electron attachment coefficient of specific electronegative gases, so that the (E/N_lim of the gas mixture decreases with increasing gas temperature and again increases the discharge efficiency. It is also shown that it may be possible to tailor the electron attachment and ionization processes of a gas mixture, so that electron ionization is greater than attachment at low E/N values. In gas mixtures of this type, it may be possible to switch the discharge from a low- to a high-conductivity state.