All solid-state Marx modulator with bipolar high-voltage fast narrow pulses output

A newly developed bipolar high-voltage modulator topology, based on fully integrated solid-state Marx generator circuit, is proposed for generating fast narrow pulses. The new circuit topology combines the advantages of conventional unipolar all-solid-state Marx modulator concepts, which takes advantage of the intensive use of power semiconductor switches, enables the use of typical half-bridge semiconductor structures. Magnetic ring transformers are used for isolating of charging circuit from high voltage pulse output, which simplified the isolation arrangement. The main factors which affect the rising and falling edge of the output pulses are discussed on the basis of simulations and experimental results. A laboratory prototype is composed of 8 stages and each stage is made of 800 V MOSFETs. The modulator operating at 2 kHz repetition rate gives 2 kV bipolar pulses, with 200 ns pulse width, 53 ns rise time, 70ns fall time and 500 ns relaxation time into a 50 Ω resistive load.