Development of a fast rise time air-insulated linear transformer driver for use in high energy density physics

The University of New Mexico, in collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory, has developed and characterized a fast rise time air-insulated linear transformer driver (LTD) for use in high power microwave (HPM), high energy density physics (HEDP), as well as shock physics experiments. The LTD cavity is a fast rise time—high current pulsed power rectangular device that is composed of four “wings” each containing three bricks, situated on the perimeter of a central spool containing the load. Each brick has two distinct capacitors and a rail switch composed of a six-by-six arrangement of spherical electrodes. This paper provides a full characterization of the device with relevant operational parameters, experimental results of load currents from various loads at various voltages, and currents and timing relationships from individual bricks and wings.