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DOE OSTI · 3378009

Electrode Erosion and Prefire Studies Towards Fusion Scale Pulsed Power

Boswell, Luke [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0009000391782959)·Clark, Raimi [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000240703494)·Stephens, Jacob [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000224730329)·Mankowski, John [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000337238672)·Dickens, James [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000191952821)·Steiner, Adam [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000258114794)·Flynn, Max Curie [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000248325803)·Neuber, Andreas [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:000000029092501X)
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Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of electrode erosion and discharge behavior in spark gap switches over long switching cycle lifetimes. Brass, copper–tungsten (CuW), and stainless steel electrodes are tested under controlled conditions to quantify material degradation, debris accumulation, and changes in breakdown voltage. High-resolution imaging and statistical analysis of spark channel locations and gap breakdown voltages reveal how surface evolution influences long-term performance and reliability. These results provide essential data for lifetime modeling and inform design strategies for pulsed power systems in emerging applications such as private sector fusion energy and large-scale facilities like Sandia’s Z Machine and proposed ZX upgrades, where high repetition reliability and predictable behavior are critical.

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electrical breakdownelectron microscopyerosiongas switchingspark gap

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Boswell, Luke [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0009000391782959), Clark, Raimi [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000240703494), Stephens, Jacob [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000224730329), Mankowski, John [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000337238672), Dickens, James [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000191952821), Steiner, Adam [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000258114794), Flynn, Max Curie [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000248325803), Neuber, Andreas [Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)] (ORCID:000000029092501X). 2026-06-27. Electrode Erosion and Prefire Studies Towards Fusion Scale Pulsed Power. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19133043

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