Development and Test of Pulse-Forming Network Marx Generator for High-Power Microwave Applications

High power microwave (HPM) applications regularly call for pulsed power drivers capable of generation ~500 kV excitation voltage and multi-kA currents. Present research at Texas Tech University is focused on developing a Marx generator with integrated pulse forming networks (PFNs) capable of satisfying this requirement. A comparison of candidate PFN topologies and the experimental characterization of a Rayleigh PFN is reported. Based on these initial experimental findings, an electrical design of a complete PFN-Marx generator system has been developed and tested. This conceptual system consists of nine-teen Marx generator stages, with each stage featuring a 15-stage Rayleigh PFN. For a 50 kV charge voltage, this system is anticipated to be able to deliver 475 kV and 10 kA into matched load with a 190 ns pulse width.