A High Current, High Voltage Solid-State Pulse Generator for the NIF Plasma Electrode Pockels Cell

Abstract

A high current, high voltage, all solid-state pulse modulator has been developed for use in the Plasma Electrode Pockels Cell (PEPC) subsystem in the National Ignition Facility. The MOSFET-switched pulse generator, designed to be a more capable plug-in replacement for the thyratron-switched units currently deployed in NIF, offers unprecedented capabilities including burst-mode operation, pulse width agility and a steady-state pulse repetition frequency exceeding 1 Hz. Capable of delivering requisite fast rise-time, 17 kV flattop pulses into a 6 omega load, the pulser employs a modular architecture characteristic of the inductive adder technology, pioneered at LLNL for use in acceleration applications1, which keeps primary voltages low (and well within the capabilities of existing FET technology), reduces fabrication costs and is amenable to rapid assembly and quick field repairs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA610018

Entities

People

  • B. C. Hickman
  • C. A. Brooksby
  • E. G. Cook
  • F. Barbosa
  • G. L. Akana
  • P. A. Arnold

Organizations

  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Capacitance
  • Cells
  • Circuit Boards
  • Control Systems
  • Electrodes
  • Frequency
  • Generators
  • High Voltage
  • Ignition
  • Information Operations
  • Modulators
  • Pockels Cells
  • Pulse Generators
  • Pulsed Power
  • Standards
  • Voltage

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering