Shock waves in transmission lines with nonlinear dielectrics

Subnanosecond rise-times for shock waves in the tens of kilovolt range at impedance levels of the order of a few Ωs can easily be generated using transmission lines with nonlinear dielectrics. The ultimate rise-time which can be achieved is not known but will be limited by the relaxation processes in the dielectric. A fast rising shock wave is accompanied by an undesirable slowly rising prepulse. This is attributed to the slow reorientation of the permanent component of the polarization of the dielectric, which is at least partly ferroelectric. The relative amplitude of the prepulse can probably be reduced by using materials with a smaller permanent polarization