Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Committee Chair
Gabe Xu
Committee Member
Jason Cassibry
Committee Member
Mark Moffett
Research Advisor
Gabe Xu
Subject(s)
Pulsed power systems--Design and construction, Plasma accelerators, Thyristors
Abstract
A first of a kind fiber-optically controlled and thyristor switched coaxial plasma gun pulsed power system has been designed, built, and fired at up to 2 kV and 6.4 kA, with a 6.65 MW momentary peak power output from the capacitor. Total system firing jitter from initial digital signal to 90% peak current rise has been measured at 78.15 ns, representing 0.18% of the total pulse time of 44.10 µs. This includes both thyristor turn-on and coaxial plasma gun breakdown. Standard deviation of peak current over repeated firings has been measured to be 21.09 A (0.33%). The system has experienced 100+ firings at 2 kV without a single misfire. A voltage profiling analysis has been performed where voltage differentials across system components, including the thyristor, were collected temporally for the entire pulse. High speed and long-exposure photography was used to verify coaxial plasma gun operation and mass-injection/gas-puff system timing. This study sets the groundwork for plasma-load pulsed power systems using thyristors, as well as informing expanded voltage and current capability, enabling fine timing control and multisystem synchronization, allowing greater repeatability and reliability, and informing multithyristor array systems.
Recommended Citation
Laya, Neil P., "Design, development, and analysis of a pulsed power system using a thyristor to fire a coaxial plasma gun" (2025). Theses. 777.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/777