Repetitive Auto-Triggered Marx Generator for an Ultra Wideband Source

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Study of the Thermodynamic and Hydrostatic Effects on the Electrical Breakdown in Fluids

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Compact self-loaded Marx generator with integrated pulse-forming line for an ultra-wideband source

International audienceThe paper presents a study on the development of an autonomous, repetitive, pulsed power generator based on a self-loaded Marx generator. Three French entities: CEA, Technix and LGE (Pau University), developed a tightly integrated unit, including a battery pack, an intermediate dc/dc converter, a high-voltage dc/dc converter, a control system, and a high pulse repetition frequency (PRF) Marx generator with its integrated pulse-forming line (PFL). This complete device is able to deliver 150 kV pulses into a 50 $\Omega$ impedance with the following principle characteristics: a rise time of about 650 ps, a fall time lower than 300 ps, a pulse width of about 1.6 ns, a repetition rate of 100 Hz and a burst duration of 10 s. The details of this repetitive peak power generator are presented in this paper. The results of preliminary tests are also included

Using a Pulsed Power Source to Improve Performances of a Very High Repetition Rate (33MHz) Opto-Electrical Radiating Device

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A Tesla Transformer and a Coaxial Peaking Switch as a UWB Pulse Source

International audienceThis paper presents a high voltage pulse source which is able to generate ultra wideband (UWB) pulses during about 1 ns through a 16 antennas array. This UWB source is composed of a 50 kV DC voltage supply, a Tesla transformer to amplify this voltage up to 400 kV, a gaseous pressurized peaking switch and an impedance transformer (50 Ω → 3.125 Ω). This output impedance value corresponds to the input impedance value of a sixteen 50 Ω antennas array. That is why a distributor is needed in order to feed the antenna array. In this paper, the peaking switch and the capacitive line divider used to characterise the generated pulses are particularly described. The peaking switch is based on the principle of a line discharge by means of a high pressure gas switch. It is loaded with a Tesla transformer to obtain a good pulse reproducibility. The main characteristics of the output pulse waveform (amplitude and rise time) are linked to the properties of the gas switch and particularly to the gap distance, the pressure and the nature of the gas used in the switch filling. The aim is to find a good compromise between various parameters as the output pulse amplitude, the rise time and the repetition rate in order to ensure a better efficiency of the UWB source. Classical voltage measurement techniques do not allow us an estimation of the main characteristics of such an output signal. Therefore a voltage probe was designed and realised to measure both the amplitude and the rise time of the pulses delivered by the generator. This device is based on the principle of a capacitive line divider. Calibration tests (transient and frequency tests) were performed and show that the high cutoff frequency, around 2.5 GHz, is consistent with the transient response of the output high voltage waveform. The design, realisation and calibration tests are also presented