Highly Repetitive Power Modulators for Mobile Applications

Experimental data from a number of DoD supported research programs have indicated that electrical systems capable of producing highly repetitive bursts of high voltage, fast risetime pulses are a critical enabling technology for applications tied to nonequilibrium physical processes, such as combustion, boundary layer flow, and the generation of high power EM waves. Recognizing the important role pulse risetime plays in accessing these nonequilibrated states, Transient Plasma Systems, Inc. (TPS) has developed proof of concept technology in Phase I of this program that is capable of switching 20 kV in 1.5 ns at a pulse repetition rate of 20 kHz. For Phase II, TPS proposes to scale the Phase I technology to achieve a 30 kW average power system capable of producing 50 kV pulses with 10-20 ns duration at a sustained pulse repetition rate of 100 kHz. Emphasis will be placed on optimizing for fast output switching to maximize dV/dt of the output pulse. The proposed pulse duration is purposefully kept low for Phase II development in an effort to maintain an average power requirement that is reasonable not only for the scope of work, but also for mobile deployment, where available power is often limited.