Measurment of the plasma electron density of a trigatron switch

Because of its wide applications in plasma based equipment, plasma parameters of a trigatron switch are investigated with the intention of the switch optimization. The theoretical method is based on the simulation of a closed switch discharge circuit, included the main capacitor, total circuit inductance, and plasma resistance, in an under damped oscillator. The charging voltage is between 6 to 15 kilovolts, the switch pressure is between 1 to 1.5 atmospheres and the gap is 1.4 or 2.8 mm. The density of the discharge plasma of the switch in self-breakdown mode is determined using the recorded time varying voltage and the switch current. The obtained electron density of plasma is (0.5-3.5)×1024 per cubic meter, which is in good agreement with the results published in standard references for arc and spark plasma in atmospheric pressure, based on the streamers mechanism.