2016 IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference

GYROMAGNETIC NONLINEAR TRANSMISSION LINE WITH SEALED SPARK GAP

6 Jul 2016, 13:30

1h 30m

Twin Peaks (Palace Hotel San Francisco)

Poster Presentation Repetitive Pulsed Power Systems, Repetitive Pulsed Magnetics, Accelerators, Beams, High Power Microwaves, and High Power Pulse Antennas Poster 1-A

Speaker

Robert Ryan (Texas Tech University)

Description

This paper discusses the experimental results of a reprated NLTL based HPM source featuring a sealed, mid-plane triggered, spark gap switch. This new design feature is expected to result in more robust and repeatable performance. Previous high reprate (>100 Hz) NLTL systems employed trigatron spark gaps with high pressure flow which suffered from non-repeatable operation. The NLTL is driven from a 2.1 nF capacitor charged to ~40 kV. The trigger generator outputs a negative polarity > 50 kV pulse with a reprate capability > 1 kHz. COTS NiZn ferrites with 8 mm ID and 16 mm OD were employed in the NLTL coaxial line. Output frequency for this size ferrite resulted in 0.7 to 1.5 GHz. The output end of the NLTL is connected directly to a simple TEM horn antenna without the inclusion of a balun. Various experimental observations are presented including spark gap voltage, in-line voltage, and radiated waveforms.