S. P. Timoshenkov

Solid-State SOS-Based Generator Providing a Peak Power of 4 GW

This paper describes a high-current nanosecond generator providing peak power of up to 4 GW, output voltage of 0.4-1 MV, pulse length of 8-10 ns, and pulse repetition rate of 300 Hz in the continuous mode and up to 1 kHz in the burst mode of operation. The average output power is up to 30 kW at a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz. The generator is outfitted with an all-solid-state system of energy switching. The output pulse is formed by semiconductor opening switch diodes. The electric circuit and the design of the generator have been described. Experimental results have been given. A device for the elimination of prepulses across the load has been proposed. Testing results and numerical modeling of the device have been reported

A Megavolt Nanosecond Generator with a Semiconductor Opening Switch

A high-current nanosecond-pulse generator with a pulse power of up to 1.6 GW, an output voltage of 0.5–1 MV, pulse duration of 40–60 ns, and repetition rates of 300 Hz (in a steady-state mode) and up to 850 Hz (in a burst mode) is described. Its average output power is 30 kW at a pulse repetition rate of 500 Hz. The energy-switching system of the generator fully consists of solid-state elements: a thyristor, magnetic switches, and a semiconductor-opening switch based on SOS diodes.

A nanosecond SOS-generator with a 20-kHz pulse repetition rate

A nanosecond SOS-generator with a 20-kHz pulse repetition rate in the continuous operating mode and with a 100-kHz pulse repetition rate in the pulse burst mode is described. The generator contains a low-voltage module with a primary capacitive storage and a transistor switch, and a high-voltage module with a magnetic compressor and a semiconductor opening switch (SOS diode). The generator forms pulses with amplitudes of 40–100 kV with a 20- to 30-MW peak power and a 10- to 14-ns duration across a 50- to 500-Ω external load. The output average power in the continuous operating mode is 5 kW. The electric circuit, principle of operation, and design of the generator’s elements are described. The test results are given.

Megavolt repetitive SOS-based generator

An all-solid-state nanosecond generator has been developed for commercial applications of pulsed power. The generator is based on a SOS-technology and is designed to deliver 40 to 60-ns pulses with amplitude of up to 1 MV at a 500-Hz repetition rate into an electron beam or streamer corona discharge load. An average output power is up to 30 kW. A distinctive feature of the generator is that it uses an all-solid-state switching system. An inductive storage and a semiconductor opening switch (SOS) are used as the final power amplifier. A magnetic pulse compressor pumps the SOS. A thyristor charging unit is used at the generator input. The semiconductor opening switch based on SOS-diodes is one of the key components of the generator. This unit has the operating voltage of 1.2 MV and cuts off currents up to 4 kA in about 10 ns. The unit is 400 mm. long and its mass is about 5 kg. It contains 20 SOS-diodes: 10 diodes in series and 2 diodes in parallel. The generator is outfitted with 1 or 2 such units in parallel depending on the storage inductance. The design of the generator, its circuitry operating principle, and experimental results obtained have been described.

A SOS-Generator for technological applications

A solid-state nanosecond SOS-generator for electrophysical technology applications is described. In the input part of the generator, the energy arrives at the high-voltage magnetic compressor through IGBT modules and a step-up pulse transformer. The input part of the generator is equipped with an unused energy recuperation circuit, and, when the output pulse is formed, the microsecond pumping mode of the semiconductor opening switch (SOS) is realized. As a result, the complete efficiency of the generator operating into a matched load is increased from ∼40 to 60–62%. The other characteristics of the generator are as follows: the peak voltage is up to 60 kV, the current is up to 6 kA, the pulse duration is about 40 ns, the pulse repetition rate in the continuous mode is 1 kHz, and the average output power is up to 9 kW.

SOS-based pulsed power: development and applications

This paper summarizes recent results of the study and development of high-power nanosecond generators employing a semiconductor opening switch. Physical processes, which underlie the operating principle of high-power opening switches based on nanosecond interruption of super-density currents in semiconductor diodes (SOS-effect), are discussed. Advances with SOS-diodes, which represent new high-voltage devices for nanosecond interruption of high-density currents, are discussed. The semiconductor structure of the SOS-diodes is compared with the structure of soft- and hard-recovery high-voltage rectifier diodes. The physical processes that occur in the semiconductor structure during pumping and interruption of the current are considered. SOS-generators having the output voltage from 0.1 to 1 MV, the pulse repetition frequency from 0.1 to 5 kHz, and the average output power of units to tens of kW, are described. Application of the SOS-generators is exemplified.

Repetitive Generation of X-Band Superradiation at 3-GW Peak Power

Two versions of modernized experimental setup (i.e., nonstationary relativistic X-band BWO) were used for the generation of subnanoseeond-width, gigawatt-range pulses of microwave superradiation (SR).

A nanosecond SOS generator with a peak power of 4 GW

A high-current nanosecond generator with a peak power of up to 4 GW, an output voltage of 0.4–1 MV, a pulse duration of 8–10 ns, and pulse repetition rates of 300 Hz in a continuous mode and up to 1 kHz in the burst mode is described. The average output power at a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz reaches 30 kW. The generator has an all-solid-state energy-switching system. A semiconductor opening switch on SOS diodes forms output pulses. The electric circuit and design of the generator are described, and the experimental results are presented. A device for eliminating prepulses across the load is proposed. The results of its testing and numerical simulation are presented.