Compact generators of high-power fast-rising pulses with closing switches in the form of reversely switched dynistors

• Published in: Review of scientific instruments 2021-10, Vol.92 (10), p.104703-104703
• Main Authors: Korotkov, S. V., Zhmodikov, A. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Current pulses; Energy dissipation; Generators; Power; Scientific apparatus & instruments; Switches; Switching; Voltage generators
• ISSN: 0034-6748; 1089-7623
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0062895

This paper presents the results of a study of reversely switched dynistors (RSDs) with an operating voltage of 2.3 kV and a structure diameter of 12 mm in an unconventional mode, when they commutate current pulses with very short durations (a few microseconds). In this mode, we studied the dependence of the switching energy loss on the amount of charge that passes through the RSDs during the flow of the control current, which is reversed with respect to the main current. It is shown that a sufficiently powerful control action will result in the RSDs under study having a very low energy loss and being able to effectively commutate microsecond current pulses with an amplitude of >10 kA. It is found that if a rise time of the commutated current pulses is less than 200 ns, the efficiency of the RSD switching significantly decreases. The results concerning the use of the RSDs under study in high-voltage generators are presented. The generators are able to commutate a pulsed power of tens of MW in less than 1 µs at a repetition rate of hundreds of Hz. Finally, this paper suggests ways to increase the power of generators.