All-solid-state triggerless repetitive pulsed power generator utilizing a semiconductor opening switch

Abstract

The repetitive pulsed power generator was constructed with the semiconductor opening switch realizing the pulse compression by an inductive energy storage system. For the preliminary pulse compression, the magnetic pulse compression system was employed. The saturable inductors and transformers were used to transfer the electrical energy from the primary storage capacitor to the load compressing the pulse. For the final output of the generator, the semiconductor opening switch (SOS) was used. The SOS assembly used in the system consists of 80 diodes that were designed to conduct high reverse current and have short reverse recovery time. By tuning the current fed to the SOS, the amplitude and pulse width of the generated voltage at the 300 Ω resistive load were 150 kV and 60 ns, respectively. Although the present generator system operates repetitively, the system has no triggered gas-discharge or semiconductor closing switch. Also, all the devices used in the system are in solid sate. The system provides stable operation and long lifetime.