Stacked, parallel-plate solid-dielectric Blumlein lines for compact pulsed power

The stacked Blumlein line is a concept that has been touted as a highly compact pulsed power system because it combines the functions of energy storage, voltage scaling, and pulse shaping into a single sub-system. As a result, two single stage Blumlein lines have been fabricated and tested using a polymer-ceramic composite dielectric. Examination of the breakdown of the dielectric near the DC voltage specification led to the understanding of the degree of voltage reversal experienced by the lines. Voltage reversal is compounded in a stacked arrangement. The voltage reversal and transients induced by the switch jitter in a stacked configuration require significant derating of the dielectric strength. Consequently, the system must be operated much below the intrinsic dielectric energy density, compromising efforts to design a compact pulsed power system. This paper presents the conclusion that for derating below 0.72, as is likely necessary, a stacked Blumlein line will contain more dielectric than a comparable stacked transmission line.