Study and development of a high-power, high-voltage nanosecond pulser

Energy compression techniques are analyzed. A most advanced method is a combination of magnetic and fast semiconductor switching. An equivalent circuit of an inductive storage semiconductor opening switch (SOS)-based pulser was developed and analyzed using a PSpice platform. It comprised a number of nonlinear elements representing all-solid state switches and saturation inductors and transformers. An extensive experimental study of the described technique was performed using an SM-4N SOS-pulser yielding 50 MW 20 ns pulses. Electrical diagnostics means for monitoring nanosecond HV pulses was developed. It comprised specialty capacitive dividers, current shunts and transformers and Rogowski coils. The pulser was characterized both with an ohmic and gas discharge load. It was found that simulation and test results are in a fair agreement for a resistive load. The simulation model will be used for design of a high-power pulser intended for driving a pulsed corona discharge.