NLC Marx Bank Modulator

73028S03-I From hundreds to thousands of pulse modulators will be needed to service more than 3300 klystrons at the Next Generation Linear Collider (NLC). These klystrons require 500 kV pulses of approximately 265 A, with strict tolerances for flattop and pulse-to-pulse voltage variation. In previous work, a Marx switch topology for the NLC was investigated. It was shown that the Marx pulser has the advantage of eliminating the pulse transformer, which is associated with significant loss of performance and a 15-20% efficiency penalty. (This efficiency penalty alone can account for over $100M of power costs over a ten-year operating life of the NLC, a cost comparable to the acquisition costs of the pulsed power systems.) This project will develop a full engineering design and a prototype of a complete 500 kV on/off-switched Marx bank pulser to fulfill the NLC performance specifications. Phase I will design both the power supply and the Marx Bank modulator, and further refine a preliminary performance model developed in the previous effort. Also, a specific opportunity to build and demonstrate a Marx bank modulator in a military radar, or a commercial medical or industrial accelerator, will be identified. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: Cost-effective, solid-state Marx Banks should have a variety of commercial applications, including medical and commercial accelerators, pulsed electric field food processing, and high energy physics systems. The solid state Marx Bank has the potential to significantly reduce the cost and size of these commercial systems, and open new markets and applications for high voltage, pulsed power systems.