Diamond Solid State Switch for Pulsed Power and Other Applications

Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation (AASC) proposes a two phase effort with the ultimate goal of producing a marketable high power, high repetition rate diamond switch suitable for use in several defense and commercial applications. In Phase I a set of experiments will be carried out that will show operation at kilohertz frequencies with closing and opening times <10 ns. While operation at these frequencies has been suggested in the past no experiments showing sustained operation have been reported. In Phase II, the knowledge gained in the Phase I research would be applied to the manufacture and demonstration of prototype diamond switches designed to switch both high current and high voltage at high frequencies. AASC is confident that a 24 month Phase II effort is adequate to establish a product line of devices for several diverse applications that will garner market share immediately following the proposed SBIR funded effort. The potential payoff for diamond switches in defense and commercial applications may be enormous. The properties of diamond suggest the ability to control hundreds of megawatts with a single device. High voltage, high repetition rate switches capable of holding off several hundred kilovolts in a small package are potentially feasible.