Ferrite-free, oil-switched, four-stage, high-gradient module for compact pulsed power applications

We describe the design and present initial experimental results of a novel, high-gradient, compact pulsed power module. Our application focus is linear accelerators but our technology is easily applicable to a wide range of pulse-power applications. Our design incorporates and combines for the first time a number of our recently developed, enabling technologies including: a novel, bipolar pulse-forming line allowing module stacking without ferrites, very compact and fast oil-filled switches, novel high-dielectric constant insulator/energy storage material, and a novel method for reducing edge enhancements in the pulse forming structure. The combination of these technologies enables us to design a very compact stackable module that will deliver high-gradient (5–10 MV/m) voltage at 5–10kA to arbitrary loads. Our prototype is comprised of four stages. Each stage is designed to operate at 300kV producing 1.2-MV into 120 Ohms. The pulse length is 25-ns and the pulse-shape is rectangular. We present initial experimental results up to 75 kV per stage with the switches operating in self-break mode.