Compact high-voltage modulator for direct radiation of ultrawideband rf pulses

Ralph James; Howard E. Rhinehart; Hardev Singh; John Creedon

doi:10.1117/12.59046

1 May 1992 Compact, high voltage modulator for direct radiation of ultrawideband RF pulses

Ralph James, Howard E. Rhinehart, Hardev Singh, John Creedon

Proceedings Volume 1631, Ultrawideband Radar; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.59046
Event: OE/LASE '92, 1992, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

This paper summarizes experiments conducted for the purpose of developing compact, lightweight, nanosecond modulators. Several well known technologies were combined to fabricate pulsers capable of generating multi-megawatt peak power pulses at kilovolt voltages and kilohertz repetition rates with nanosecond risetimes. Two modulator designs were developed which met these objectives. One approach used a hydrogen thyratron to switch a coaxial cable pulse forming line (PFL). This design required a sharpening gap assist to achieve the nanosecond risetime. The second approach used a selfbreaking spark gap to switch the PFL. This design led to the development of a battery operated 'briefcase' pulser that weighed less than 10 pounds. The 'briefcase' pulser demonstrated outputs of 2 megawatts of peak power at repetition rates up to 1000 hertz. Pulse risetimes of a nanosecond were achieved with a 10 nanosecond pulse width. A pulse of this description is known as a 'video' pulse.

Citation Download Citation

Ralph James, Howard E. Rhinehart, Hardev Singh, and John Creedon "Compact, high voltage modulator for direct radiation of ultrawideband RF pulses", Proc. SPIE 1631, Ultrawideband Radar, (1 May 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.59046

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