Solid state pulsed power systems for the Next Linear Collider

Summary form only given, as follows. In June 2000, Diversified Technologies, Inc. (DTI) of Bedford, MA was awarded two research grants by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop pulsed power technology for the Next Linear Collider project. The grants are funding the development of a prototype "Hybrid" modulator and research into fast switches scalable to the 1 MV level. The Hybrid Modulator being developed under the first grant utilizes an 80 kV, 3200 A solid state switch driving a 6.5:1 pulse transformer. This system, which will be delivered to SLAC in 2001, will provide 500 kV, 3.2 /spl mu/s pulses at 530 A to drive a pair of NLC klystrons. In the second SBIR effort, DTI is investigating scaling this solid state technology to provide 500 kV-1 MV direct switching. Eliminating the pulse transformer in these designs offers the potential for significantly higher modulator efficiency. This effort includes designing and prototyping elements of both a solid state \´hard\´ switch, and a solid state Marx Bank. DTI describes these three architectures under development, presents recent results from these efforts, and reviews the challenges, current status, and applicability of very high voltage solid state modulators to NLC and other high energy physics applications.