Overview of a compact power conditioning system for high power VHF and microwave sources

The University of Missouri-Columbia has investigated a compact power conditioning system to integrate with flux compression generators. The main elements of the power conditioning system are a non-magnetic core spiral-wound transformer, an exploding wire fuse, and a crowbar switch. The power conditioning system can drive two types of loads. The first type of load utilizes a compact high voltage capacitor to both store the energy from the power conditioning system at high voltage and form an oscillating circuit to produce a VHF output signal. The second load is a high power microwave (HPM) source, which is often modelled as a low resistance. This paper presents a brief overview of the power conditioning system with experimental and theoretical results of operation with the VHF and HPM sources, respectively. The pulse transformer and exploding wire fuse are described. The operation of the system with a VHF source is detailed, and experimental results are reviewed of the power conditioning system and VHF source driven by a simulator of a flux compression generator. The operation of the system with a HPM source is also described, and results from advanced simulations of the system with the dynamic resistance of the exploding wire fuse are provided.