Long pulse, ultra-low impedance pulse generator based on magnetic switch and strip line

A pulse generator featured with long pulse, ultra-low impedance, and compact structure is designed based on a rolled strip pulse forming line (PFL) and a magnetic switch. This generator was designed to generate a pulse with voltage of 20 kV, current of 40 kA, and duration of 230 ns. It comprises primary energy system, pulse transformer, magnetic switch, rolled strip PFL, rail gap switch, and load. The magnetic switch operates in about 40 kV, which compresses the pulse duration from 10 μs to 2 μs. The all solid-state, rolled strip PFL is rolled up by copper plate and Mylar film separately, whose characteristic impedance and electrical length are respectively 0.5 Ω and about 115 ns. Experiment results gave a 17.8 kV, 270 ns (FWHM) voltage pulse which was a quasi-square wave on the water load of 0.5 Ω. The current in the load was about 35.6 kA. The theoretical and simulation results agree well with the experimental results.