Solid state linear transformer driver (LTD) development for HPM sources

Abstract

The Marx pulse generator topology has been widely used in pulsed power applications 1,2. Another pulse generator topology, the linear transformer driver (LTD), has been developed 3 that may serve as a viable alternative to the Marx generator. LTDs utilize inductively added stages to achieve high voltages and currents. Unlike a Marx generator, each stage in an LTD features multiple bricks, all of which are ground referenced and allow current to be distributed amongst an arbitrary number of switches. This allows for LTDs that utilize solid-state switches, potentially resulting in more compact and reliable pulse generators. A solid-state, >10 kA peak current, multiple-stage LTD is developed. The generator's performance will be analyzed for viability as a replacement for driving a high power microwave generator.

A Repetitive Low Impedance High Power Microwave Driver

“…The past decade has seen various custom-built HPM drivers around the world, using very different technical approaches [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22], with peak power ranging from several to several tens of gigawatts. Most of the drivers have a water or oil filled coaxial or Blumlein pulse forming lines (PFL).…”

“…For lower impedance (<20 Ω) requirements, water or aqueous based liquid mixture may be used as they have a higher dielectric constant than transformer oil [22,24]. Some other accelerators have no pulse forming lines, as they use a Marx generator or a linear transformer driver (LTD) with a very short rise time [14,15,21] or with a pulse forming network (PFN) [19,20], and the output pulse width is not limited by the geometry length of the driver. These PFLless drivers are also aimed at driving the high impedance HPM loads and they have much more components than drivers with pulse forming lines.…”