Abstract: A variable-pulse-shape pulsed-power accelerator is driven by a large number of independent LC drive circuits. Each LC circuit drives one or more coaxial transmission lines that deliver the circuit's output power to several water-insulated radial transmission lines that are connected in parallel at small radius by a water-insulated post-hole convolute. The accelerator can be impedance matched throughout. The coaxial transmission lines are sufficiently long to transit-time isolate the LC drive circuits from the water-insulated transmission lines, which allows each LC drive circuit to be operated without being affected by the other circuits. This enables the creation of any power pulse that can be mathematically described as a time-shifted linear combination of the pulses of the individual LC drive circuits. Therefore, the output power of the convolute can provide a variable pulse shape to a load that can be used for magnetically driven, quasi-isentropic compression experiments and other applications.

Abstract: A linear transformer driver includes at least one ferrite ring positioned to accept a load. The linear transformer driver also includes a first, second, and third power delivery module. The first power delivery module sends a first energy in the form of a first pulse to the load. The second power delivery module sends a second energy in the form of a second pulse to the load. The third power delivery module sends a third energy in the form of a third pulse to the load. The linear transformer driver is configured to form a flat-top pulse by the superposition of the first, second, and third pulses. The first, second, and third pulses have different frequencies.

Abstract: A flexible solid-state resistor comprises a string of ceramic resistors that can be used to charge the capacitors of a linear transformer driver (LTD) used in a pulsed power machine. The solid-state resistor is able to absorb the energy of a switch prefire, thereby limiting LTD cavity damage, yet has a sufficiently low RC charge time to allow the capacitor to be recharged without disrupting the operation of the pulsed power machine.

Abstract: A low-inductance, air-insulated gas switch uses a de-enhanced annular trigger ring disposed between two opposing high voltage electrodes. The switch is DC chargeable to 200 kilovolts or more, triggerable, has low jitter (5 ns or less), has pre-fire and no-fire rates of no more than one in 10,000 shots, and has a lifetime of greater than 100,000 shots. Importantly, the switch also has a low inductance (less than 60 nH) and the ability to conduct currents with less than 100 ns rise times. The switch can be used with linear transformer drives or other pulsed-power systems.

Abstract: A variable-pulse-shape pulsed-power accelerator is driven by a large number of independent LC drive circuits. Each LC circuit drives one or more coaxial transmission lines that deliver the circuit's output power to several water-insulated radial transmission lines that are connected in parallel at small radius by a water-insulated post-hole convolute. The accelerator can be impedance matched throughout. The coaxial transmission lines are sufficiently long to transit-time isolate the LC drive circuits from the water-insulated transmission lines, which allows each LC drive circuit to be operated without being affected by the other circuits. This enables the creation of any power pulse that can be mathematically described as a time-shifted linear combination of the pulses of the individual LC drive circuits. Therefore, the output power of the convolute can provide a variable pulse shape to a load that can be used for magnetically driven, quasi-isentropic compression experiments and other applications.

Abstract: A flexible solid-state resistor comprises a string of ceramic resistors that can be used to charge the capacitors of a linear transformer driver (LTD) used in a pulsed power machine. The solid-state resistor is able to absorb the energy of a switch prefire, thereby limiting LTD cavity damage, yet has a sufficiently low RC charge time to allow the capacitor to be recharged without disrupting the operation of the pulsed power machine.

Abstract: A linear transformer driver includes at least one ferrite ring positioned to accept a load. The linear transformer driver also includes a first power delivery module that includes a first charge storage devices and a first switch. The first power delivery module sends a first energy in the form of a first pulse to the load. The linear transformer driver also includes a second power delivery module including a second charge storage device and a second switch. The second power delivery module sends a second energy in the form of a second pulse to the load. The second pulse has a frequency that is approximately three times the frequency of the first pulse. The at least one ferrite ring is positioned to force the first pulse and the second pulse to the load by temporarily isolating the first pulse and the second pulse from an electrical ground.

Abstract: A linear transformer driver includes at least one ferrite ring positioned to accept a load. The linear transformer driver also includes a first, second, and third power delivery module. The first power delivery module sends a first energy in the form of a first pulse to the load. The second power delivery module sends a second energy in the form of a second pulse to the load. The third power delivery module sends a third energy in the form of a third pulse to the load. The linear transformer driver is configured to form a flat-top pulse by the superposition of the first, second, and third pulses. The first, second, and third pulses have different frequencies.

Abstract: A petawatt pulsed-power accelerator can be driven by various types of electrical-pulse generators, including conventional Marx generators and linear-transformer drivers. The pulsed-power accelerator can be configured to drive an electrical load from one- or two-sides. Various types of loads can be driven; for example, the accelerator can be used to drive a high-current z-pinch load. When driven by slow-pulse generators (e.g., conventional Marx generators), the accelerator comprises an oil section comprising at least one pulse-generator level having a plurality of pulse generators; a water section comprising a pulse-forming circuit for each pulse generator and a level of monolithic triplate radial-transmission-line impedance transformers, that have variable impedance profiles, for each pulse-generator level; and a vacuum section comprising triplate magnetically insulated transmission lines that feed an electrical load.