| |
New particle accelerators, with voltages exceeding 50 kV and currents exceeding 1,000 A, require kicker magnet drivers to deliver pulsed power with durations in the 10-100 ns range. Similar levels of pulse performance are needed for state-of-the-art eximer laser systems, impulse radar transmitters, and particle accelerators for medical therapy. In addition, the processing of food using pulsed electric fields (PEF processing) has similar requirements. In this paper, DTI will review solid-state pulse power technologies capable of delivering high-voltage, high-current pulses with 10-to-100 nanosecond pulse duration. IGBTs, MOSFETs, snap-off diodes, and magnetic pulse compression will be discussed. Current research at Diversified Technologies, Inc. is exploring the impact of these switching devices and circuits on pulse wave shape, pulse repeatability, adjustability of pulse voltage, current and timing, maximum pulse rate (PRF), jitter, and robustness.
|
|