A Tesla Transformer and a Coaxial Peaking Switch as a UWB Pulse Source

• Authors: Y. Amal , L. Pecastaing , M. Rivaletto , T. Reess , P. Pignolet , B. Cassany , A. Ferron , L. Courtois , E. Merle
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper presents a high voltage pulse source which is able to generate ultra wideband (UWB) pulses during about 1 ns through a 16 antennas array. This UWB source is composed of a 50 kV DC voltage supply, a Tesla transformer to amplify this voltage up to 400 kV, a gaseous pressurized peaking switch and an impedance transformer (50 Ω → 3.125 Ω). This output impedance value corresponds to the input impedance value of a sixteen 50 Ω antennas array. That is why a distributor is needed in order to feed the antenna array. In this paper, the peaking switch and the capacitive line divider used to characterise the generated pulses are particularly described. The peaking switch is based on the principle of a line discharge by means of a high pressure gas switch. It is loaded with a Tesla transformer to obtain a good pulse reproducibility. The main characteristics of the output pulse waveform (amplitude and rise time) are linked to the properties of the gas switch and particularly to the gap distance, the pressure and the nature of the gas used in the switch filling. The aim is to find a good compromise between various parameters as the output pulse amplitude, the rise time and the repetition rate in order to ensure a better efficiency of the UWB source. Classical voltage measurement techniques do not allow us an estimation of the main characteristics of such an output signal. Therefore a voltage probe was designed and realised to measure both the amplitude and the rise time of the pulses delivered by the generator. This device is based on the principle of a capacitive line divider. Calibration tests (transient and frequency tests) were performed and show that the high cut-off frequency, around 2.5 GHz, is consistent with the transient response of the output high voltage waveform. The design, realisation and calibration tests are also presented.

Keywords

EN

84.70.+p; 07.57.Hm; 84.30.Ng

Discipline

• 84.70.+p: High-current and high-voltage technology: power systems; power transmission lines and cables(for superconducting cables, see 84.71.Fk)
• 84.30.Ng: Oscillators, pulse generators, and function generators
• 07.57.Hm: Infrared, submillimeter wave, microwave, and radiowave sources(see also 42.72.Ai Infrared sources in optics)

• Publisher: Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Acta Physica Polonica A
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 115
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1115-1117

Dates

published

2009-06

Contributors

author

Y. Amal

• Laboratoire de Génie Electrique, Université de Pau, 2 av. Angot, 64053 Pau, France

author

L. Pecastaing

• Laboratoire de Génie Electrique, Université de Pau, 2 av. Angot, 64053 Pau, France

author

M. Rivaletto

• Laboratoire de Génie Electrique, Université de Pau, 2 av. Angot, 64053 Pau, France

author

T. Reess

• Laboratoire de Génie Electrique, Université de Pau, 2 av. Angot, 64053 Pau, France

author

P. Pignolet

• Laboratoire de Génie Electrique, Université de Pau, 2 av. Angot, 64053 Pau, France

author

B. Cassany

• CEA CESTA, BP 2, Routes des Gargails, 33114 Le Barp, France

author

A. Ferron

• CEA CESTA, BP 2, Routes des Gargails, 33114 Le Barp, France

author

L. Courtois

• CEA CESTA, BP 2, Routes des Gargails, 33114 Le Barp, France

author

E. Merle

• CEA CESTA, BP 2, Routes des Gargails, 33114 Le Barp, France

References

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• 2. E.E. Kunhardt, W.W. Byszewski, Phys. Rev. A 21, 2069 (1980)
• 3. L. Pécastaing, J. Paillol, T. Reess, A. Gibert, P. Domens, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 34, 1822 (2006)
• 4. L. Pécastaing, J. Paillol, T. Reess, A. Gibert, P. Domens, Measurement Sci. Techn. 12, 1718 (2001)
• 5. V.I. Koshelev, V.P. Gubanov, A.M. Efremov, S.D. Korovin, B.M. Kovalshuk, V.V. Plisko, A.S. Stepchenko, K.N. Sukhushin, Proc. 2nd Intern. Congress on Radiation Physics, High Current Electronics and Modification of Materials, Tomsk, 258 (2006)

Identifiers

DOI

10.12693/APhysPolA.115.1115