High-current semiconductor switches of pulse power supply systems

The present large accelerators, thermonuclear devices are facilities which operation is directly connected with long-term (frequencies from several to hundreds Hz), fast commutation of powerful DC electric power - from megawatt to terawatt, the voltage being up to several tens kV and currents - up to several hundreds kA. Reversible-switch dinistors (RSD) have the best commutation characteristics in the microsecond range. Tests of prototype RSD-systems on silicon washers 56 mm and 80 mm in diameter in monopulse and frequency modes are carried out. Thus, under monopulse mode, trapezoidal current pulse 100 μs in length and with amplitude of 300 kA was conducted through one device 80 mm in diameter. The current variation rate is about 30 kA/μs. At all frequencies no device failure due to excess of current change rate was noticed