A Review of Short Pulse Generator Technology

Today's ultrafast, pulse generators are capable of producing high-voltage pulses, ([is greater than]1 kV), with fast, leading-edge rise times, ([is less than]1 ns). A review of generator implementation methods is presented that includes a detailed discussion of the various circuit designs and a list of commercially available high-voltage pulse generators. Al! of these generators are capable of rise times less than a few ns and voltages greater than several hundred volts. Finally, a brief description of the three primary switch types, reed, spark gap, and solid state is presented. Index Terms--Capacitive store, fast switching, high voltage, inductive store, Marx generators, opening switches, picosecond, pulse forming line, pulse generators, reed switches, solid state switches, spark gaps, Tesla transformer.