Fast high-voltage pulse generation using nonlinear capacitors

Many pulsed power applications require short high-voltage pulses with a hig h-repetition rate. Conventional high-voltage discharge pulse-sn itches such as thyratrons, spark gap switches, and vacuum tube snitches have a short l ifetime, whereas the semiconductor switches have a long lifetime and high r eliability, The semiconductor switches, however, cannot be directly applied to fast high-voltage pulsed power generation due to their limited operatin g voltage ratings despite their relatively Long switching times. Therefore, they are used with voltage amplification and a pulse compression stage. This paper describes two pulse generators that use the semiconductor switch es and nonlinear capacitors: one is based an an opening switch (IGBT) and i nductive energy storage, the other is a combination of a closing snitch (RS D) and capacitive energy storage.