High-Power Switching
The gating technology required to drive pulsed-power fusion, railguns, and directed energy systems.
01 Definition
Pulsed-power electrical switching technologies capable of handling extreme voltages and mega-ampere currents with nanosecond-level rise times.
02 Detailed_Analysis
High-power switching encompasses fast-acting electrical switches—including thyratrons, spark gaps, solid-state thyristors, and photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS)—engineered to transfer gigawatt-to-terawatt electrical pulses from energy storage systems into low-inductance plasma loads. Critical performance metrics include high hold-off voltage (>50-100 kV), peak current capacity (>10-100 kA), ultra-fast current rise rates (dI/dt > 100 kA/µs), and high repetition reliability.
03 Key_Facts
- ▸ Manages kilovolt-to-megavolt hold-off and kiloampere pulse discharges
- ▸ Enables current rise rates exceeding 100 kA/µs for plasma compression
- ▸ Includes gas-discharge thyratrons, spark gaps, and advanced solid-state arrays
04 Deep_Dive_Intelligence
Overview
Intelligence asset in the Pulsed Power & Materials.
Entity Type: Concept — High-Power Switching is a technical concept or theoretical framework.
06 Related_Terms (2)
07 Related_Entities (11)
08 Timeline_Mentions (10)
Pulsed Power Technology Growth
Pulsed power technology begins rapid development, supported by the Atomic Energy Commission and Defense Nuclear Agency for radiation source testing.
fusion-physicsMAGO project begins at VNIIEF (Russian nuclear weapons lab)
Russian MTF program at weapons lab. Communist Party decree. Same dual-use pattern as US.
defense-programsRussia A-60 airborne laser first flight
The Beriev A-60 airborne laser laboratory made its first flight. Based on the Il-76MD transport, it carried a 1MW-class CW laser for ASAT operations. The A-60 is the foreign equivalent of the US ABL Y
Directed EnergyKrasik Emigrates to Israel
Professor Yakov Krasik moves from the Soviet Union to the Weizmann Institute of Science, facilitating the transfer of Soviet pulsed power expertise to the West.
personnelJoint US-Russian MAGO MTF collaboration begins
LANL and VNIIEF begin joint magnetized target fusion experiments using explosive pulsed power.
international-programsJoint US-Russian MAGO MTF experiment begins
LANL-VNIIEF joint magnetized target fusion experiment using explosive pulsed power.
fusion-researchTechnion P4 Laboratory Established
Professor Krasik establishes the Plasma and Pulsed Power (P4) Laboratory at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
fusion-physicsAtlas Pulsed Power Facility Commissioned
Atlas commissioned at LANL. Received Shiva Star technology (capacitors, rail-gap switches). Supports SSP. Turchi liner experiments. Later relocated to Nevada Test Site.
Classified ProgramsHEPPC Development
General Atomics announces the High Energy Pulsed Power Container (HEPPC), doubling energy density via world-record capacitors.
fusion-physicsIEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science Conference
Global conference held in Orlando, Florida, featuring sessions on computational plasma physics and pulsed power applications.
fusion-physics09 FAQ
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Quick_Facts
- Category
- Technology
- Aliases
- High-Power Switching, high-power-switching, Pulsed Power Switches, Fast High-Voltage Switching
- Sources
- 0
- Related Terms
- 2
- Graph Entities
- 11
- Timeline Events
- 10