Design and optimization techniques for the generation of intense, ultrafast pulses with nonlinear transmission lines

Solid-state systems that produce kW or MW pulses on nanosecond timescales typically consist of multiple stages composed of nonlinear components that compress and switch energy. The transient and nonlinear nature of these stages complicate the analysis of system dynamics to an extent that closed form expressions describing metrics such as output impedance, energy compression ratio, and efficiency in terms of circuit components or constitutive material parameters are difficult if not impossible to obtain. To address these challenges, a number of techniques, some closed-form and some numerical, have been developed to elucidate system dynamics and provide design rules. Specific attention will be paid to impedance matching between the pulse generator and nonlinear electromagnetic shockline presented in this paper. At only 1.5 kg, this light and compact system shows promise for a variety of pulsed power applications requiring the long lifetime, low jitter performance of a solid state pulse generator that can produce fast, high voltage pulses at high repetition rates.