Nanosecond, kilovolt pulse generators

Nanosecond pulse generators, which provide kilovolt pulses, are required for applications such as pulsed lasers, electro-optical devices, electron heating of plasmas, and bioelectrics. Switches used to generate such short pulses include high-pressure spark gaps, photoconductive switches and semiconductor opening switches. Most of the pulse generators based on these switch technologies are designed for high voltage, high power applications. We have explored two concepts that of a MOSFET triggered, microspark Marx-Bank and a combined microspark-semiconductor switch system as a means to generate simple, inexpensive nanosecond pulse generators. The compact pulse generators allow us to generate electrical pulses of less than 10 ns duration, with amplitudes of several kV. The Mini Marx Bank has been shown to provide 6 kV pulses of 6 ns duration into a 10 M/spl Omega/ load and 2 kV into a 50 /spl Omega/ load. The second switch system, which utilizes a microspark switch and a commercially available diode to shorten the pulse, has provided 2.6 kV pulses of 2 ns duration into a 50 /spl Omega/ load. The low cost of the generator components, and the compact size make these devices easy to built and convenient to use in nanosecond pulsed power experiments.