2-kV and 1.5-kA Semi-Insulating GaAs Photoconductive Semiconductor Switch

Current as high as 1.5 kA has been obtained under a bias voltage of only 2 kV with a single photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) excited by a laser pulse with the energy of 16 mJ. The PCSSs with gap lengths of 1.5 and 2 mm were fabricated by semi-insulating GaAs. The currents of the PCSSs were measured under different bias voltages and capacitance values. In addition, the PCSS operated at 2 kV and 1.5 kA with high stability.