Measuring arc dynamics using a slab coupled optical sensor (SCOS)

Electric arcs are a form of electric discharge through a non-conductive media caused by a high electric potential between two points. The timing of this discharge serves as an important parameter in high pulse power applications and a short discharge time is often desirable. We put together a circuit which operates on the principle of inducing a high voltage pulse on an ignition coil controlled by a MOSFET. Slab coupled optical sensor (SCOS) technology was used to characterize arc dynamics such as the discharge time, charge time, slope of the discharge, and effects of changing spark gap distance. In triggering the spark gap, we were able to characterize the discharge of pulses with times between 100 ms and 170 ns.