Multistage Blumlein High Voltage Generator

A multistage Blumlein generator has been developed and tested. The system is capable of producing nanosecond pulses at >100 kV at high repetition rate. The arrangement of multiple switched Blumleins is a new topology for producing fast high voltage pulses in a compact generator. A sequence of three-axial lines forms the basics of the multistage generator. At the output load a voltage is formed equal to the charging voltage multiplied by a number of sections. The pulse length is equal to the transmission time of each section multiplied by two. This schematic differs from Marx generator because Marx generator has two waves: a fast excitation wave and a slow current wave. The multistage Blumlein has only one speed of wave which is determined by transmissions lines. This gives the possibility to obtain a nanosecond pulse at the output. Recent work has manufactured and tested multistage generators for pulse lengths from 10 ns to 100 ns at up to 100 kV with load impedance from 10 to 50 Ω. Applications considered include MA pulsed power systems, wideband high power microwaves and modulator for RF accelerators. Pulse forming and tuning techniques will be presented.