All-solid-state triggerless repetitive pulsed power generator utilizing a semiconductor opening switch

The repetitive pulsed power generator was constructed with the semiconducto r opening switch realizing the pulse compression by an inductive energy sto rage system. For the preliminary pulse compression, the magnetic pulse comp ression system was employed. The saturable inductors and transformers were used to transfer the electrical energy from the primary storage capacitor t o the load compressing the pulse. For the final output of the generator, th e semiconductor opening switch (SOS) was used. The SOS assembly used in the system consists of 80 diodes that were designed to conduct high reverse cu rrent and have short reverse recovery time. By tuning the current fed to th e SOS, the amplitude and pulse width of the generated voltage at the 300 Om ega resistive load were 150 kV and 60 ns, respectively. Although the presen t generator system operates repetitively, the system has no triggered gas-d ischarge or semiconductor closing switch. Also, all the devices used in the system are in solid sate. The system provides stable operation and long li fetime. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.