TY - GEN
T1 - A low impedance 500kV 2.7kJ Marx generator as testbed for vacuum diodes
AU - Lynn, C.
AU - Neuber, A.
AU - Matthews, E.
AU - Walter, J.
AU - Kristiansen, M.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - A low impedance Marx generator was developed as part of a test bed for vacuum diodes of various electrode materials and geometries. The generator supplies sufficient energy to initiate and sustain the typically unwanted plasma formation within the diode; which facilitates the observation of the plasma, current uniformity, and electron current densities of various diode structures. The generator consists of ten stages; each stage utilizes a 220 nF 50 kV capacitor, with a series inductance of ∼20 nH. When charged to the rated voltage of the capacitors the energy density of the complete generator with case, spark gaps, insulation, etc., is 19.2 mJ/cm3; this is roughly the energy density of a typical ceramic doorknob capacitor without any supporting structure or isolation. The energy density of the capacitors utilized in the Marx generator by themselves is 104 mJ/cm3. Fired into a low inductance short, the ringing frequency was measured to be 1.4 MHz resulting in an output impedance of 5.2 Ω. Erection of the Marx required adding forward feeding capacitors as the stray capacitance to ground is smaller than the capacitance (∼60 pF) of the low inductance, low profile spark gap switches. The design and construction of this generator are discussed as well as selected experimental results obtained with the generator.
AB - A low impedance Marx generator was developed as part of a test bed for vacuum diodes of various electrode materials and geometries. The generator supplies sufficient energy to initiate and sustain the typically unwanted plasma formation within the diode; which facilitates the observation of the plasma, current uniformity, and electron current densities of various diode structures. The generator consists of ten stages; each stage utilizes a 220 nF 50 kV capacitor, with a series inductance of ∼20 nH. When charged to the rated voltage of the capacitors the energy density of the complete generator with case, spark gaps, insulation, etc., is 19.2 mJ/cm3; this is roughly the energy density of a typical ceramic doorknob capacitor without any supporting structure or isolation. The energy density of the capacitors utilized in the Marx generator by themselves is 104 mJ/cm3. Fired into a low inductance short, the ringing frequency was measured to be 1.4 MHz resulting in an output impedance of 5.2 Ω. Erection of the Marx required adding forward feeding capacitors as the stray capacitance to ground is smaller than the capacitance (∼60 pF) of the low inductance, low profile spark gap switches. The design and construction of this generator are discussed as well as selected experimental results obtained with the generator.
KW - Forward coupling capacitors
KW - Marx Generator
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80051751682&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/IPMHVC.2010.5958383
DO - 10.1109/IPMHVC.2010.5958383
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:80051751682
SN - 9781424471294
T3 - Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2010
SP - 417
EP - 420
BT - Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2010
T2 - 2010 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2010
Y2 - 23 May 2010 through 27 May 2010
ER -