High Voltage Pulse Generator for Next Generation Light Sources and Colliders

Next generation light sources and colliders are in development to push the frontiers of science. Upgrades to beam emittance, brightness, and the selection of new particles require critical changes in magnetic injection/extraction systems that deflect charged particles into the facility’s storage ring. High voltage pulsers generally provide the ‘kick’ to these magnet systems, but future facilities will require unprecedented rise-fall times, high voltage amplitudes (> 50 kV), and pulse durations. These capabilities must all exist while maintaining high reliability and graceful failure mechanisms to protect the integrity and efficiency of the facility. The proposed program will investigate the development of a high voltage pulse generator with an innovative graceful failure architecture targeting deployment in the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) injection system at Brookhaven National Lab. Sydor has implemented graceful failure mechanisms in past, lower voltage pulser designs using a series parallel array of smaller voltage switches, and will target this implementation in a demonstrator unit. This high performing design phase will also include the exploration of system health monitoring for predictive maintenance that will align with scheduled facility down times. Phase I will produce a detailed design and low voltage demonstrator unit for the proof of concept of a design that can be built upon for a commercial prototype detector meeting EIC and other collider facility applications. This will entail consulting with our world-leading partners in the high voltage pulser field, designing pulse card printed circuit boards, and integrating self-testing mechanisms into the prototype design. Phase I will culminate in the testing of a demonstrator unit and design plan for a full, > 50 kV pulser design. A robust and commercially supported fast, high voltage pulser with a reliable self-test and graceful failure mechanism will enable the EIC and other collider or light source facilities to operate with high levels of quality and efficiency not possible today. No commercially available pulser provides the output waveform at > 50 kV amplitude required for these facilities. The advances made in this proposed work will provide critical infrastructure to developing national laboratories and those undergoing upgrades to new particle species and/or faster, shorter particle bunches or light pulses.