Stabilized radial pseudospark switch

A stabilized radial pseudospark switch comprising:

• a hollow cathode having an axis of symmetry;
• a hollow anode coaxial with and surrounding said cathode, said cathode and said anode including a plurality of aligned pairs of holes which define an array of pseudospark channels, said pseudospark channels having longitudinal axes which intersect at a point on said axis of symmetry;
• a stabilizing electrode element for controlling spontaneous anode-cathode current and for accelerating switch commutation, said stabilizing electrode element being located on said axis of symmetry in alignment with said pseudospark channels and being maintained at the electrical potential of said cathode;
• an auxiliary electrode for supplying electrons for causing switch commutation;
• an auxiliary voltage source for applying a positive potential between the auxiliary electrode and the cathode for maintaining the switch open circuit and for applying a negative potential between the auxiliary electrode and the cathode for causing switch commutation by the formation of discharges in said pseudospark channels;
• and
• a vacuum-tight enclosure for maintaining a gas at prescribed pressure in a region between said cathode and said anode.