Compact Subnanosecond Pulse Generator using Avalanche Transistors

Abstract

Summary form only given. A solid-state subnanosecond risetime kilovolt pulsed power generator built for biological applications is presented. The pulse generating switch is a chain of avalanche transistors in tapered transmission line configuration. The generator produces a 0.8 ns rise time, 1.3 ns wide, 1.1 kV pulse into a 50 Omega load. Output pulse parameters are measured with a custom-designed capacitively compensated resistive voltage divider. The divider has a 1400:1 division ratio and a 3 dB point at 910 MHz. We discuss the possibility of sharpening this pulse further by using a pulsed high voltage source instead of a standard DC high voltage unit. Further, we explore the design of the electrode interface to integrate the pulse generator with a biological cell culture load, and conduct preliminary electromanipulation experiments on malignant cell lines.