Vacuum circuit interrupter with dual plate actuation

A method for operating a circuit breaker, the method comprising:

• providing a vacuum interrupter that is operable to move from a closed state an open state, wherein:
• the vacuum interrupter comprises:
• a first movable electrode to which a first contact is connected, and
• a second movable electrode to which a second contact is connected, and
• in the open state, the first contact and the second contact are separated by a contact gap, and
• in the closed state, the first contact and the second contact touch each other;
• operating an ultrafast actuator that is operatively connected to the first and second movable electrodes to change the vacuum interrupter from the closed state to the open state by simultaneously moving:
• the first contact in a first direction along a first distance portion of the contact gap, and
• the second contact in a second direction along a second distance portion of the contact gap,
• wherein the ultrafast actuator comprises a Thomson coil or a piezo-electric actuator.