A 4 MV /spl plusmn/ Flat- Top Electron Diode Driver

The design and performance of a prototype pulsed power supply for the Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility, DARHT, injector is described. The system contains a glycol Blumlein pulsed charged to 1.5 MV by a step-up transformer. The Blumlein´s pulse is transformed up by a sequence of output transmission lines and delivered to the electron beam diode through a radial vacuum insulator. The power supply can deliver a 4 MV, 61 nsec wide (99-99%) flat-top voltage pulse with less than /plusmn/1% ripple into a 150 ohm load. A command jitter of 0.9 nsec (1/spl delta/) and continuous rep-rate of 0.05 Hz have been demonstrated. A number of design features are described which allow shaping of the leading edge and flat-top portion of the output pulse to minimize excitation of oscillations in the diode cavity and to compensate for reactive load impe dance components. Test results are presented which demonstrate this ability to tune the output waveshape.