Characterization and analysis of a pulse forming network based 11 stage Marx system for a high power microwave, plasma and beam physics test stand

Summary form only given. The University of New Mexico Electrical and Computer Engineering Department is developing advanced high power microwave sources and charged particle beam accelerators and pulsed power capabilities. This paper presents the characterization, analysis, implementation and modification of a high power Marx coupled to a low impedance charged particle beam accelerator. The 11 stage Marx is a bipolarity charged 100 kV device and each stage is comprised of the main capacitor and switch as well as an LCR based pulse forming line and a fast rise time peaking switch. A numerical model of the device has been created that includes the pulse forming network and is compared to experiments at various charging voltages. A configuration as well as experimental data for unipolar charging will also be presented. A variable load impedance has been designed that allows for output characterization of the Marx driving different impedances. To match the driver to a low impedance device and conical transmission line has been designed and numerical as well as experimental results of this are also presented. The initial triggering scheme called for electrical high voltage triggering of the first three stages but a design of a laser trigger based on 800 nm laser burst impinging on one of the electrode and its implementation will also be presented along with jitter measurements.