Investigation on the Discharge Characteristics of Multi-Channel Spark Plasma Jet and Its Triggered Gas Switch

We designed a six-channel annular micro-plasma-gun to generate a stable multiple spark plasma jet. The multi-channel plasma jet characteristics were investigated at different pulse parameters. The PIC-MCC particle model of the micro-plasma-gun discharge was established, which can well describe the physical process of the initial development of spark plasma jet and the competitiveness between multiple jet channels. Finally, the micro-plasma-gun was embedded into the triggered electrode of a three-electrode gas switch, and the discharge characteristics of the gas switch under multi-channel spark plasma jet triggering, UV pre-ionization triggering and filed distortion triggering were investigated. The results show that, at the initial electron avalanche, the electron temperature starts to increase gradually, and electron number also increases exponentially. When it transitions to the streamer discharge, the electron temperature drops to several eV, and the growth rate of electron number tends to saturation, approaching to 1012–1013. Under the fast and high energy voltage pulse, it is easier to form the multi-channel spark plasma jet. Comparing to field distortion, UV pre-ionization and single spark plasma jet, the lower delay time and jitter can be obtained at the multi-channel spark plasma jet triggering method. The triggered delay time and jitter is 43.5 and 1.5 ns at the working coefficient of 50%.