Advanced Solid State Switch (Diode) Materials for High Rep Rate Pulse Power Systems and High Power Radio Frequency (HPRF) Applications

Direct conversion of DC energy to RF energy via switched systems such as Class D, E, and F amplifiers is limited by the switches currently available. Presently available switches are voltage limited, resistive transition time limited, and rate of current rise limited. Furthermore, high power switched amplifiers are limited by the thermal dissipation of the switches which are required to open and close in a fraction of the period of the RF being generated.Applied Physical Electronics, in concert with Washington State University, are developing a Silicon Carbide switch capable of operating at tens of kV and transitioning from blocking to conduction in several ns to provide very high rates of current rise.