A coaxial ceramic vacuum interface for repetitive operated pulsed power source

An improved coaxial high-voltage ceramic vacuum interface applied in a repetitive pulse generator, was designed and tested. Results from electro-static calculation by ANSYS show that the electric field (E-field) distribution within the improved interface is uniform. Key structures such as the anode and the cathode shielding rings of the ceramic insulator were optimized to significantly reduce E-field stresses. Aging experiments with this interface were conducted in the condition of about 600 kV, 80 ns and 1-5 Hz pulses. The preliminary test shows that the ceramic vacuum interface can work stably with the hold-off field of more than 44 kV/cm. The experimental results agree with the simulated results. Finally, the influence of the surface treatment on the ceramic flashover characteristics was discussed.