Title :
The Early History of Western Pulsed Power
Author_Institution :
L-3 Pulse Sci.
Abstract :
The development of submicrosecond pulsed power in the U.K. and USA between 1960 and 1970 is described. Novel short-pulse (tens of nanoseconds) X-ray tubes driven by stacked solid dielectric striplines were devised at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, U.K. for radiography. The importance of nuclear weapons effects simulation then motivated a very rapid development of new types of pulse generator in the USA to drive scaled-up tubes of this type. Prominent among these pulse generators were the Marx-driven liquid dielectric pulse lines that form the basis of many present-day pulsed power generators
Keywords :
electromagnetic pulse; pulse generators; pulsed power supplies; radiography; strip lines; weapons; Aldermaston; Atomic Weapons Research Establishment; Marx-driven liquid dielectric pulse lines; UK; USA; nuclear weapons effects simulation; pulse generator; radiography; short-pulse X-ray tubes; solid dielectric striplines; submicrosecond pulsed power; western pulsed power; Atomic measurements; Dielectric liquids; History; Nuclear power generation; Nuclear weapons; Power generation; Pulse generation; Radiography; Solids; Stripline; Electromagnetic pulse (EMP); electron beams; pulse generators; pulsed X-rays; pulsed power; switching; weapons effects simulators;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2006.883391
