HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH FOR SLAPPER DETONATORS

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND BUILD A HARDWARE PROTOTYPE OF A MULTIMODE, REUSABLE, HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH FOR SLAPPER DETONATOR APPLICATIONS. THE HARDWARE PROTOTYPE WILL DEMONSTRATE THE DESIGN FOR A HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH THAT DOES NOT EXHIBIT STALLING. IN ADDITION, THE SWITCH CAN BE TRIGGERED IN THREE MODES: DISPLACED CHARGE, ION INJECTIONS, AND PHOTO-ELECTRIC AVALANCHE. THE SWITCH ALSO WILL HAVE AN INHERENT SAFETY FEATURE THAT PREVENTS BREAKOVER TO VOLTAGES AS HIGH AS 10 KV UNTIL ARMED. FOR TESTING PURPOSES, THE SWITCH CAN BE TRIGGERED IN A RINGDOWN MODE OVER A 1000 TIMES. THE SWITCH WILL BE BASED ON A BOROSILICATE ENVELOPE WITH HOUSEKEEPER SEALS AND STRIPLINE PRIMARY CONDUCTORS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROTOTYPE WILL DEMONSTRATE THE ELECTRICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AS WELL AS PROVIDE A BASELINE TECHNOLOGY FOR A COST ESTIMATE. THE ANTICIPATED COST FOR THE SWITCH IS $12.00 IN HUNDREDS QUANTITIES.