Progress of pulsed power commercial applications in Japan

Progress has been achieved in pulsed power technology and its applications in Japan, not only in universities but in industries. At Nagaoka University of Technology, efforts have been carried out on the development of pulsed power technology and the applications in materials science, laser engineering, or inertial confinement fusion. Various kinds of pulsed power generators have been developed such as inductive voltage adder, quickly chargeable Blumlein PFL, and magnetic pulse compressor. In addition to the first demonstration of quick preparation of thin films by an intense pulsed ion-beam ablation plasma (ion beam evaporation), synthesis of ultrafine nanosize powders has been succeeded by rapid cooling of the plasma with the ambient gas molecules. At Kumamoto University, R&D of high rep-rate pulsed power generator and its applications have been done on pollution control, rock fraction, railgun, and UV and ozone production. At Himeji Institute of Technology, experimental studies are carried out on surface modification by the irradiation of pulsed ion beam on targets. Nanostructured crystallites of Ti or amorphous layer of Ni alloy were demonstrated. At Nichicon Capacitor Co. Ltd, various types of pulsed power machines have been developed using step-up transformer, inverter or induction accelerator.