High voltage nanosecond pulser using a repetitive series interrupter

Claim 2

A pulse generator comprising a series loop connection of a power source, an inductive energy storage device, a spark gap, and a load device; and including a magnetic field controlled electronic switching device connected across the series connection of said spark gap and load element, and magnetic field generation means which produces a magnetic field for controlling said switching device, such that a pulse of said magnetic field causes said switching device to present an open circuit, thereby causing a spark to jump across said gap, so that an electrical pulse is delivered to said load device.

Claim 3

A high voltage pulse generation system comprising a voltage source connected in a series loop with an inductive energy storage device, a spark gap, and an electrically conductive load element, characterized in that: a magnetic field controlled electronic current conduction and interruption device is connected across the series connection of said spark gap and load element, and a magnetic field pulse generation network connected to said voltage source provides a magnetic field for controlling said electronic current conduction and interruption device, whereby a current flowing through said inductive energy storage device is interrupted by a pulse of said magnetic field being applied to said current conduction and interruption device, so that a high voltage is generated across said spark gap, thus causing current conduction across the gap and resulting in a high voltage pulse being applied to said electrically conductive load element.

Claim 4

A high voltage pulse generation system comprising a voltage source connected in a series loop with an inductive energy storage device, a spark gap, and an electrically conductive load element, characterized in that: a magnetic field controlled electronic current conduction and interruption device is connected across the series connection of said spark gap and load element, and a magnetic field pulse generation network connected to said voltage source provides a magnetic field for controlling said electronic current conduction and interruption device, whereby a current flowing through said inductive energy storage device is interrupted by a pulse of said magnetic field being applied to said current conduction and interruption device, so that a high voltage is generated across said spark gap, thus causing current conduction across the gap and resulting in a high voltage pulse being applied to said electrically conductive load element.

Claim 5

The system of claim 2, wherein said inductive energy storage device comprises an inductor, and said magnetic field controlled current conduction and interruption device comprises a repetitive series interrupter.

Claim 6

The system of claim 3, wherein said magnetic field pulse generation network comprises a magnetic field coil in series connection with a pulse shaping network, a charging inductor, and said voltage source, the junction connecting said pulse shaping network with said charging inductor also being connected to a first terminal of a voltage sensitive electronic switching device, a second terminal of which is connected to a terminal of said voltage source not connected to said charging inductor.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4, wherein said pulse shaping network comprises a single terminal pair ladder network, said network beginning with a capacitor connected across said terminal pair and continuing with one or more sections comprising a series inductor and a parallel capacitor.

Claim 8

The system of claim 4, wherein said voltage sensitive electronic switching device comprises a thyratron electronic tube.