A compact square waveform 15 kJ generator: 15 ns risetime, 7.5 /spl Omega/ load impedance and 100-500 ns pulse width

This paper describes a compact six stage-Marx generator intended to provide the power conditioning for advanced radio frequency (RF) and high-power microwave sources, The generator specifications, which made this system unique, called for relatively high output pulses of energy of 15 kJ across the load impedance of 7.5 /spl Omega/. The charging voltage is organized to vary from 25 to 100 kV. With the matching (dummy) load of 7.5 /spl Omega/ used, the maximum output voltage should be 300 kV, the maximum output current 40 kA and the peak power 12 GW. Without application of the crowbar switch, the pulse width is 0.82 /spl mu/s. A 10 to 90% rise time of about 20 ns was obtained by recording the voltage across the load with a resistive voltage divider probe. When the pulse is observed with a capacitive probe, the rise time falls closer to the value of 10 ns. Three examples of the application of the system to achieve a powerful RF source are given.