This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a vacuum compatible, high gradient insulator (HGI) based on low SEE yield aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramic with high surface flashover resistance for pulse power applications. In Phase I we will design and fabricate AlN-Metal HGIs, and investigate the effects of AlN and metal layer thicknesses, and number of layers on the flashover resistance (maximum supported field gradient) of the HGIs. We will present a coaxial HGI insulator design to maximize the center conductor voltage using the developed HGI material.
Benefits: Vacuum insulators are widely used in high voltage systems to maintain physical spacing of components and to provide a non-conductive vacuum boundary. Specific applications of AlN based high performance HGIs include particle accelerators, in particular, dielectric wall accelerators, which can be used radiography and radiation therapy, pulsed power sources including directed energy systems, high power microwave tubes.
Keywords: Aluminum nitride, ceramic, dielectric, insulator, surface flashover, vacuum
