Solid-State Mini-Marx Generator

To address the Air Force need for a compact, reliable, high-voltage Marx generator with high pulse repetition rate and low jitter, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Solid-State Mini-Marx (SSMM) generator based on series-connected insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), with drivers, compact oil-free pulse transformers, and DC/DC high-voltage power supplies integrated in an open-architecture design. In Phase I POC developed a working SSMM prototype that successfully generated high-voltage pulses 10 MHz damped sinusoidal wave production with a 2 kHz repetition rate. This Phase I SSMM prototype has a failure-safe design, protecting the generator from static and dynamic voltage imbalance for any number of IGBTs in the system. In Phase II POC will develop an all-battery-powered, high-rep-rate SSMM engineering prototype with remote triggering capability that specifically meets Air Force requirements. The Phase II SSMM prototype, battery-powered and 0.3 cubic meter in volume, will consist of five modules generating 100 kV/1 kA impulse per module, producing a 500 kV/1 kA damped 100 MHz sinusoidal wave packet at repetition rates up to 2 kHz. In Phase II POC will also develop a business and commercialization plan for engineering development and marketing.