Abstract: A pulsed-power driver with modular construction is presented. The pulsed-power driver includes a voltage adder assembly and a transmission line that extend along a driver axis from an upstream end to a downstream end. The voltage adder assembly has a modular construction and is disposed around the transmission line. The voltage adder assembly includes a number of stages axially distributed along the driver axis. The transmission line includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The outer conductor includes a modular segmented construction along the driver axis that includes a number of outer conductor segments corresponding to the number of stages. The pulsed-power driver further includes a plurality of stage insulators longitudinally interleaved between each pair of adjacent outer conductor segments, and the outer conductor segments of each pair are electrically connected to each other in series via a corresponding stage of the voltage adder assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing radionuclides by neutron activation are disclosed. A system for radionuclide production can include a compact plasma-based fusion neutron source, for example, a Z-pinch-based neutron source, configured to generate a neutron flux, and a target holder configured to hold a target comprising neutron-activatable nuclides, for example, 98Mo, where the target holder is arranged with respect to the compact plasma-based fusion neutron source to expose the target to the neutron flux and produce radionuclides, for example, 99Mo, through neutron activation of the neutron-activatable nuclides. In some embodiments, the target holder is configured to move the target along a circulation path arranged with respect to the plasma-based fusion neutron source during exposure of the target to the neutron flux.

Abstract: Plasma processing systems and methods for fusion power applications are disclosed. The system can include a plasma confinement device including a reaction chamber; a plasma formation and injection device configured to form a source plasma outside the reaction chamber and inject the source plasma inside the reaction chamber; and a power supply configured to supply power to the plasma confinement device to apply a voltage across the reaction chamber to compress the source plasma into a Z-pinch plasma capable of sustaining fusion reactions. The plasma confinement device can include an inner electrode surrounded by an outer electrode to define therebetween an acceleration region of the reaction chamber. The outer electrode can extend beyond the inner electrode to define an assembly region of the reaction chamber. The source plasma can be injected in the acceleration region and flowed into the assembly region to be compressed into the Z-pinch plasma.

Abstract: A multi-strike ballast to ignite an electrodeless lamp is disclosed, and includes an inverter circuit, a protection circuit, and a controller. The inverter circuit, upon activation, sends an ignition pulse to the lamp. The inverter circuit shuts down upon receiving a deactivation signal, and activates upon receiving an activation signal, triggering another ignition pulse. The protection circuit senses a change in a voltage associated with the lamp. The sensed changed may indicate that the lamp has not yet ignited or that the lamp is broken. The controller receives the sensed change in voltage and, in response, sends a deactivation signal to the inverter circuit. The controller waits a predetermined time and then sends an activation signal to the inverter circuit. The controller repeats until a change in voltage associated with the lamp is not sensed, or until a predefined number of repeats occur, providing multiple ignition pulses to the lamp.

Abstract: An inverter for a lighting device including one or more solid state light sources is used to power a secondary load, such as a cooling device, sensor, or control with an auxiliary power circuit that provides a selectable auxiliary voltage to the secondary load. The auxiliary power circuit includes a voltage regulation circuit and a voltage selection circuit. The voltage selection circuit provides a feedback voltage to the voltage regulation circuit which his indicative of auxiliary output voltage. The voltage regulation circuit operates based on the feedback voltage and a reference voltage to adjust the auxiliary voltage to a level that differs from the input voltage from the inverter.

Abstract: A ballast comprises an inverter having a transformer comprising a core, a primary winding, and a secondary winding for connecting to a lamp and providing voltage thereto. The ballast includes a fault condition detection circuit connected to the inverter for disabling the inverter to discontinue energization of the lamp when a fault condition occurs. The fault condition detection circuit comprises an other primary winding wound on the core of the transformer for receiving a voltage signal proportional to a voltage across the secondary winding, a voltage blocking circuit connected to the other primary winding for receiving the voltage signal from the other primary winding, and a capacitor connected between the voltage blocking circuit and ground potential. The voltage blocking circuit is configured to selectively conduct and block the received voltage signal as a function of the frequency of the received voltage signal.

Abstract: A ballast comprises an inverter circuit for connecting to a lamp and providing power thereto. The ballast includes a current feedback circuit connected to the inverter circuit and the lamp for controlling the frequency of the inverter circuit based on current feedback from the lamp. The ballast includes a switch circuit connected to the current feedback circuit and the lamp for enabling the current feedback circuit when the lamp is in a normal operating state and disabling the current feedback circuit when the lamp is in a low current operating state.

Abstract: A ballast comprises an inverter having a transformer comprising a core, a primary winding, and a secondary winding for connecting to a lamp and providing voltage thereto. The ballast includes a fault condition detection circuit connected to the inverter for disabling the inverter to discontinue energization of the lamp when a fault condition occurs. The fault condition detection circuit comprises an other primary winding wound on the core of the transformer for receiving a voltage signal proportional to a voltage across the secondary winding, a voltage blocking circuit connected to the other primary winding for receiving the voltage signal from the other primary winding, and a capacitor connected between the voltage blocking circuit and ground potential. The voltage blocking circuit is configured to selectively conduct and block the received voltage signal as a function of the frequency of the received voltage signal.

Abstract: An arc detection circuit that detects an occurrence of arcing between ballast and a lamp is provided. A transformer has a primary side connected between the ballast and the lamp to receive lamp current and conduct the lamp current from the ballast to the lamp during normal operation. A secondary side of the transformer produces a transformer voltage as a function of the lamp current received by the primary side. The produced transformer voltage is less than a threshold value during normal operation and greater than the threshold value during an occurrence of arcing between the ballast and the lamp. The arc detection circuit reduces the produced transformer voltage and provides it to the ballast so as to shut down the ballast operation.

Abstract: A multi-strike ballast to ignite an electrodeless lamp is disclosed, and includes an inverter circuit, a protection circuit, and a controller. The inverter circuit, upon activation, sends an ignition pulse to the lamp. The inverter circuit shuts down upon receiving a deactivation signal, and activates upon receiving an activation signal, triggering another ignition pulse. The protection circuit senses a change in a voltage associated with the lamp. The sensed changed may indicate that the lamp has not yet ignited or that the lamp is broken. The controller receives the sensed change in voltage and, in response, sends a deactivation signal to the inverter circuit. The controller waits a predetermined time and then sends an activation signal to the inverter circuit. The controller repeats until a change in voltage associated with the lamp is not sensed, or until a predefined number of repeats occur, providing multiple ignition pulses to the lamp.

Abstract: A multi-strike ballast to ignite an electrodless lamp is disclosed, and includes an inverter circuit, an output voltage detection circuit (OVDC), and an inverter shutdown circuit. The inverter circuit, upon activation, sends an ignition pulse to the electrodeless lamp. The inverter circuit shut downs upon receiving a deactivation signal, and activates upon receiving an activation signal, triggering another ignition pulse. The OVDC detects an output voltage across the lamp. The inverter shutdown circuit includes a multi-strike diac and receives the detected output voltage. The multi-strike diac breaks upon the output voltage reaching a predetermined level. In response, a deactivation signal is sent to the inverter circuit. The multi-strike diac turns off upon the output voltage falling below the predetermined level. In response, an activation signal is sent to the inverter circuit, triggering a further ignition pulse. The process repeats, providing multiple ignition pulses to the lamp.

Abstract: An arc detection circuit that detects an occurrence of arcing between ballast and a lamp is provided. A transformer has a primary side connected between the ballast and the lamp to receive lamp current and conduct the lamp current from the ballast to the lamp during normal operation. A secondary side of the transformer produces a transformer voltage as a function of the lamp current received by the primary side. The produced transformer voltage is less than a threshold value during normal operation and greater than the threshold value during an occurrence of arcing between the ballast and the lamp. The arc detection circuit reduces the produced transformer voltage and provides it to the ballast so as to shut down the ballast operation.

Abstract: A multi-strike ballast to ignite an electrodless lamp is disclosed, and includes an inverter circuit, an output voltage detection circuit (OVDC), and an inverter shutdown circuit. The inverter circuit, upon activation, sends an ignition pulse to the electrodeless lamp. The inverter circuit shut downs upon receiving a deactivation signal, and activates upon receiving an activation signal, triggering another ignition pulse. The OVDC detects an output voltage across the lamp. The inverter shutdown circuit includes a multi-strike diac and receives the detected output voltage. The multi-strike diac breaks upon the output voltage reaching a predetermined level. In response, a deactivation signal is sent to the inverter circuit. The multi-strike diac turns off upon the output voltage falling below the predetermined level. In response, an activation signal is sent to the inverter circuit, triggering a further ignition pulse. The process repeats, providing multiple ignition pulses to the lamp.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for powering a lamp connected to a ballast circuit. The ballast circuit is connected to a first alternating current (AC) source having a first phase and to a second AC source having a second phase. A first rectifier circuit is connected between the first AC source and a first switching circuit. A second rectifier circuit is connected between the second AC source and a first switching circuit. A control circuit selectively energizes the first and second switching circuits to provide power from the first and second AC sources to the lamp load via an inverter circuit. A detection circuit generates a detection signal indicating whether power is being supplied by each the first and second AC sources. The detection signal is provided to a dimming regulation circuit to generate a dim level command signal for dimming the lamp.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for powering a lamp connected to a ballast circuit. The ballast circuit is connected to a first alternating current (AC) source having a first phase and to a second AC source having a second phase for powering the lamp. A first switching circuit is connected between the first AC source and a rectifier circuit. A second switching circuit is connected between the second AC source and the rectifier circuit. A control circuit selectively energizes the first and second switching circuits to provide power from one of the first and second AC sources to the lamp load via the rectifier circuit and an inverter circuit. A detection circuit connected between the first and second AC sources generates a detection signal indicating whether power is being supplied by each the first and second AC sources. The detection signal is provided to a dimming regulation circuit to generate a dim level command signal for dimming the lamp.