A Guillemin type E pulse forming network as the driver for a pulsed, high density plasma source.

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Pulsed Power Systems
• Microwave-Plasma Interactions

Background:

• High-density plasmas are crucial for studying high-power microwave (HPM) interactions.
• Existing pulse forming networks (PFNs) require tailored outputs for specific experimental needs.
• Accurate synchronization of plasma generation and HPM delivery is essential for controlled experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, develop, and test a Guillemin type E pulse forming network (PFN) for generating high-density plasmas.
• To investigate the interaction of HPMs with plasma using the SYMPLE experimental architecture.
• To ensure precise control over plasma discharge parameters, including duration, rise time, flat top, amplitude, jitter, and ripple.

Main Methods:

• Analytical approximation and PSPICE simulation were used to determine PFN parameters.
• An in-house ignitron trigger generator (ITG) was developed for PFN discharge control and HPM-plasma synchronization.
• The PFN was tested to evaluate its performance against specified criteria for rise time, flat top, ripple, and jitter.

Main Results:

• The developed PFN successfully generated high-density plasmas (~1 × 10^18 m^-3) with a maximum duration of ~100 μs.
• Achieved PFN output parameters include a rise time of ~5-8 μs, a variable flat top of 20-100 μs, ripple within ~1.5%, and jitter within ±2.5 μs.
• The system produced quiescent plasma discharges (<10%) suitable for HPM interaction studies.

Conclusions:

• The Guillemin type E PFN, coupled with the ITG, effectively meets the stringent requirements for generating controlled, high-density plasma discharges.
• The developed system enables precise HPM-plasma interaction studies by ensuring synchronized and stable plasma conditions.
• The PFN design and performance validation pave the way for advanced research in microwave-plasma physics.