Power electron beam front shortening in MITL with inner coaxial dielectric insert

The starting point for this investigation is a suggestion that it is possible to get the clearly defining shock electromagnetic wave in quite short modified magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL). The line modification resides in the inner coaxial dielectric insert. One may consider the insert as a distributed matched sharpening spark gap. Dielectric insert has been put up at the input of the two meters long coaxial MITL. The parameters of high voltage pulse supplying at line input are as follows: 1.5 MV, 20 – 30 kA, 90 ns, front duration − 30 ns. The current pulse with front duration less than 1 ns has been observed at the line output. The output current has ranged up to about 10 – 12 kA. The input/output current difference is attributable to transverse plasma motion and the stable current leakage generation. In short circuit regime plasma has connect the line in about 100 ns.