A 100 kV, 60 A solid state 4 kHz switching modulator for high power klystron driving.

Area of Science:

• High-power electronics
• Particle accelerator components
• Pulsed power systems

Background:

• Driving high-power klystrons requires advanced modulators capable of high voltage and current.
• Existing modulator technologies may face limitations in pulse quality, response time, or operational safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel solid-state high-power modulator designed for driving high-power klystrons.
• To demonstrate the modulator's capability to deliver precise and stable high-voltage pulses.
• To highlight the advantages of a merged Marx generator and direct modulator topology.

Main Methods:

• Development of a solid-state modulator using eight switches and custom air-insulated transformers operating at 4 kHz.
• Implementation of a merged topology combining a Marx generator with direct modulation.
• Utilizing phase shifting of transformer drives to generate high-quality pulses.
• Incorporating real-time voltage correction to counteract output stage droop.

Main Results:

• Achieved 120 kV and 60 A output capabilities.
• Generated pulses with <10 μs risetime and <0.1% flatness.
• Operated with programmable pulse frequencies from 2 to 50 Hz.
• Demonstrated safe operation with low energy storage in output stages and real-time voltage correction.

Conclusions:

• The developed solid-state modulator effectively meets the demanding requirements for driving high-power klystrons.
• The merged topology offers a robust and safe solution with excellent pulse quality.
• Real-time voltage correction enhances pulse stability, compensating for inherent droop.