A compact high voltage vector inversion generator

The Pichugin pulser (named after its Russian inventor) is a compact, high reliability vector inversion generator. Although consisting of many stages, the Pichugin pulser has the distinct advantage that only one inversion switch is required. One-switch operation gives the generator its high degree of reliability and is accomplished by using transformer coupling between the generator stages. If efficient transformer coupling is maintained, the generator can be made very compact. This investigation reports on the design, performance, and characterization of a compact 500 kV, approximately 1 J Pichugin pulser. Without an output peaking switch (or spark gap) the output risetime of the pulser is approximately 0.5 /spl mu/s. Shorter, nanosecond risetimes have been measured with the use of an output peaking switch. These types of pulsers are used in our laboratory to trigger various spark gaps and multi-channel surface discharge switches with a good performance record and a high degree of reliability. The Pichugin pulser is an attractive alternative to conventional Marx-bank pulser design.