Notes for Report on the Generator ‘Tom’

Abstract

The system consists of a 12 stage triggered gap Marx generator which produces the main high voltage gain in the system. The inductance of this Marx is reasonably low, being 2.3 microhenries, but if it fed the 140 ohm load directly, the 10 to 90 rise time would be about 36 nanoseconds and far too slow. In order to speed up the rise time of the pulse, the normal peaking capacity circuit is used. This basically establishes the required current in the Marx inductance at the time the voltage on the condenser has reached approximately that of the erected Marx. An output gap then closes and the current diverts from the peaking capacitor to the load. In order to produce a fast rise time to the output pulse, the peaking capacitor and the output switch must have a low inductance and the feed from them to the load transmission line must match the impedance of this. The external conical transmission line is attached to the generator at the output face.

SSWA/JCM/735/407 (Rev.) No Date