A repetitive frequency square wave generator based on Blumlein pulse forming network and pseudospark switch

Area of Science:

• Pulsed Power Technology
• High Voltage Engineering
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• The Blumlein pulse forming network (PFN) is a standard for generating short-width square waves in pulsed power applications.
• Developing repetitive, high-frequency square wave generators is crucial for advanced pulsed power systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and optimize a repetitive frequency square wave generator.
• To integrate a Blumlein PFN with a pseudospark switch (PSS) for enhanced performance.
• To characterize the output waveforms and operational stability of the generator.

Main Methods:

• Designed a Blumlein PFN with optimized unequal capacitances for improved output waveforms.
• Developed a single-gap pseudospark switch (PSS) with a 40 kV withstand voltage and 100 Hz repetitive frequency.
• Integrated the PFN and PSS, and conducted experimental tests to evaluate performance.

Main Results:

• The generator successfully produced square wave pulses with 26 kV voltage, 25 ns rise time, and 90 ns pulse width into an 11 Ω matched load.
• Achieved stable operation for 10 hours at a 100 Hz repetitive frequency.
• Demonstrated low timing jitter of approximately 1 ns after 1.05 × 10^6 shots.

Conclusions:

• The developed Blumlein PFN and PSS-based square wave generator offers a reliable and stable solution for high-frequency pulsed power applications.
• The optimized PFN design and high-performance PSS contribute to achieving high-quality output pulses.
• The system's long-term stability and low jitter performance make it suitable for demanding applications requiring precise pulse generation.