THE PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF THE AVALANCHE TRANSISTOR-BASED MARX BANK CIRCUIT - A NEW PERSPECTIVE

The principle of operation of the transistor-based Marx bank circuit h as been examined. It was experimentally observed that stage-wise incre ase of reverse voltage does not occur. This cannot be explained by the principle of operation understood so far. A new explanation, consiste nt with the experimental observations and associating current-mode sec ond breakdown of transistors, is proposed. A few experimental observat ions made by earlier workers have also been justified in light of the new current-controlled mechanism. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physi cs.