Design and Performance of a 4 mv, 14 kj Marx Generator

Applied Physical Electronics, L.C. (APELC) has designed, built, and characterized a large Marx generator capable of a maximum erected voltage of 4 MV and a maximum pulse energy of 14.5 kJ. The generator is charged using a dual polarity charging topology, which helps reduce the source impedance to approximately 70 Ohms. When driving a matched resistive load, a peak power of 230 GW is delivered, with an approximate rise time of 100 ns and a pulse width of approximately 300 ns. The generator is uniquely designed to be generally insulated with transformer oil, but switched in a dry air medium. The 42 spark gap switches are uniquely grouped in sets of six, bringing in the advantages of UV coupling, and gap pre-ionization, to better switching performance.