Low jitter rail-gap switch triggered by sub-picosecond KrF laser pulses

A rail-gap switch with a jitter of 100 ps has been developed to operate over a length of 33 cm, with an arc density of three channels per centimetre. This switch is triggered by a 500 fs, 1 mJ laser pulse of 248 nm wavelength and uses pure nitrogen. Reliable operation in both DC and pulse-charge mode is demonstrated. The authors also describe a compact switch, several centimetres long, with an arc density of six discharge channels per centimetre.