Solid-state Marx bank modulator for the next linear collider

The use of solid state switches to create high voltage pulsed power is an important shift from traditional pulsed power technologies based on vacuum devices, spark gaps, and plasma switches. During the last decade, investigators at a number of institutions, including Diversified Technologies, Inc. (DTI), have examined a wide range of practical pulsed power architectures that use solid state devices. Over the past two years, DTI has demonstrated a combination of old and new technologies in a solid state Marx bank. This configuration offers a number of advantages to the broad class of pulsed power applications requiring relatively high peak power, short pulses, and low average power.