The pulse power switch plays an important role in a wide variety of pulse power applications, such as plasma science and high-pressure-impact studies. This paper develops a shock-induced pulse power switch based on electro-explosion of exploding bridge wire (EBW). The electrical field distribution and electrothermal coupling of EBW are simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics software to assess the rationality of structural parameters. Employing microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology, the switches are mass-produced with only three steps, improving experimental efficiency and lowering the cost. Electrical tests are conducted at a series of operation voltages varying from 600 V to 1800 V, and the results indicated that peak current increases linearly with operation voltage, while delay time and rise time all show a slowly declined trend. A potential conduction mechanism is discussed for better understanding, and switch resistance is described mathematically. Finally, microchip exploding foil initiators (McEFIs) are used as a test vehicle to verify the capability of the switch, and ultrafine hexanitrostilbene (HNS-IV) pellets are successfully detonated at 0.15 μF/1300 V after the switch is closed.

In this paper, microchip exploding foil initiators were fabricated by micro-electro-mechanical system scale fabrication methods, such as magnetron sputtering, photolithography, and chemical vapor deposition. A small-scale capacitor discharge unit based on the metal-oxide-semiconductor controlled thyristor was designed and produced to study the performance of the microchip exploding foil initiator. The discharge performance of the capacitor discharge unit without load and the effect of protection devices on the metal-oxide-semiconductor controlled thyristor were studied by the short-circuit discharge test. Then, the electric explosion characteristic of the microchip exploding foil initiator was also conducted to study the circuit current, peak power, deposited energy, and other parameters. Hexanitrostilbene refined by ball-milling and microfluidic technology was adopted to verify the initiation capability of the microchip exploding foil initiator triggered by the metal-oxide-semiconductor controlled thyristor. The results showed that the average inductance and resistance of the capacitor discharge circuit were 22.07 nH and 72.55 mΩ, respectively. The circuit peak current reached 1.96 kA with a rise time of 143.96 ns at 1200 V/0.22 μF. Hexanitrostilbene fabricated by ball-milling and microfluidic technology was successfully initiated at 1200 V/0.22 μF and 1100 V/0.22 μF, respectively.