Prototype 2-stage magnetic pulse compression modulator for pulse power applications

A magnetic pulse compression (MPC) scheme using a saturable reactor together with pulse capacitor is a useful technology for shaping input pulses into narrow output pulses of a much higher power level. Modulators with MPC circuits can meet the long life and high reliability requirements which are very important in industrial applications. A prototype modulator with a two-stage MPC switch (assembled with amorphous cores) is constructed to generate repetitive pulses of maximum 500 MW peak power with a pulse width (FWHM) of 500 nsec at a maximum pulse repetition rate of 300 Hz into a 24 Ω dummy load. In this paper, the detailed system design and operational characteristics of the prototype MPC modulator are presented