First Trials with a 45 GW Cable-Based Pulsed-Power Generator

The output from narrow-band high-power microwave (HPM) sources, such as the virtual cathode oscillator (vircator) and the magnetically insulated line oscillator (MILO), is strongly dependent on the voltage pulse feed. A rectangular, flat-top voltage pulse can be achieved by the use of a transmission line as a pulse-forming unit. The development in high-voltage cable technology has made them useful as parts of high-voltage and high-power generator systems. The generator is designed to deliver a 200 ns voltage pulse of 500 kV into a 10 Ω unmatched load with an electric power of 25 GW. The generator has an impedance of 2 Ω. The primary energy storage of the generator consists of a 50 kV, 20 kJ capacitor bank. The 50 kV is discharged into a transformer that charges a pulse-forming line to 550 kV. When charged, the pulse-forming line is discharged into the load via a spark gap. This paper presents results from initial testing of the generator.