Design and Performance of a Compact Marx Generator for Two-Electrode Gas Switch Used in ICF Power Conditioning System

Abstract

As the high-current, high-coulomb transfer two-electrode graphite gas switch had no trigger electrode and must be triggered by a nanosecond pulse, a compact Marx generator was developed to produce a nanosecond rise-time, voltage level around 100 kV negative pulse to trigger the gas switch. This paper presented the structure of the compact Marx generator and the performance used in ICF power conditioning system. The effect of the ultraviolet radiation was utilized to decrease the amplitude of the breakdown voltage of the spark gaps. Coaxial structure of the metal shell was employed to reduce the inductance of the Marx generator. Additional isolation circuits were improved to prevent the electromagnetic disturbance which was significant for the application of the two-electrode graphite gas switch. The results showed that the designed compact Marx generator was suitable and have been successfully used as the trigger generator in ICF power conditioning system.