A PFN high voltage Marx generator

This paper describes the construction and performance of a five stage, pulse forming network (PFN) Marx generator which has been constructed with commercially available HV coaxial cable. The coaxial cable has been used to replace the discrete HV inductors and capacitors which normally make up each stage. This approach to PFN Marx generators results in a system which is relatively straightforward to assemble, compact and inexpensive. The PFN Marx generator is suitable for moderate to low energy applications, such as general HV testing of capacitive loads and high speed triggering and it can be employed as an X-ray generator or microwave generator power supply. Although the stored energy in the generator can be quite modest, the device can be operated at high pulse repetition frequencies if required