Traveling Wave Marx Generator

Air Force systems require the development of improved high power microwave sources. These sources require efficient generation of high voltage pulses. These systems require charging a short pulse forming line that is switched to an impulse radiator producing a damped sine output at the desired frequency or a matched impulse output to produce an ultrawide band signal. Both approaches have a common requirement of efficiently charging a short pulse forming line to very high voltage. Marx Generators and resonant transformers have been used in this application but have been limited in flexibility of producing the desired pulse shapes and are typically large in size and weight. A traveling wave marx type generator has the potential to produce a more efficient charging system with shorter pulse length and reduced size and weight. When multiple switches are used in a traveling wave arrangement smaller lower inductance switches can be used resulting in a pulse output with faster risetime and hence higher charging efficiency. Using a Blumlein approach higher voltage and larger stored energy is possible with a reduced number of switches. We have demonstrated a traveling wave Blumlein arrangement and propose to extend its capability to meet the Air Force directed energy requirement.