An asymmetrical 175 kV, 210 ns Pichugin pulse generator

Abstract

The working of the Pichugin pulse generator (named after its Russian inventor) is accurately studied. The influences of inductance and capacitance on the output signal characteristics are studied. A theoretical expression for the output signal's rise time, versus the stage number and the component values, is established. A technical innovation, consisting of an asymmetrical structure which allows an important decrease in rise time and an increase in output peak voltage, is proposed. The realization of a 175 kV, 210 ns rise time, six-stage asymmetrical pulser is proposed and discussed. The improvement compared with the performances of the equivalent symmetrical pulser, for the same rise-time value, is about 50% more voltage.

Design of a pulse generator for wideband applications

“…Several solutions have been examined, all for small power application: spark gap discharge, where an energy reservoir (i.e. a capacitor) is discharged through a fast low parasitic capacitance spark gap [3]; special architectures may be used to reach very high voltage levels [4] [5];…”