New SOS diode pumping circuit based on an all-solid-state spiral generator for high-voltage nanosecond applications
File(s)SOS.pdf (843.02 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Semiconductor opening switch (SOS) diodes are capable to switch currents with a density of more than 1 kA/cm 2 and withstand nanosecond pulses with an amplitude of up to 1 MV. SOS diodes, however, require a specific pumping circuit that must simultaneously provide forward and reverse pumping currents with a time of ∼ 500 and ∼ 100 ns, respectively. Such a pumping circuit with energies > 1 J typically requires a gas-discharge switch or a low-efficient solid-state solution. This study proposes a novel approach to pumping SOS diodes based on a spiral generator (SG) (also known as a vector inversion generator). Due to its wave characteristics, the SG produces a bipolar current discharge that meets the time duration and current amplitude required to pump an SOS diode. Moreover, the initial pulse from the spiral typically has a relatively low current amplitude compared to the opposite polarity secondary pulse, so the SOS diode can operate at very high efficiencies. This idea has been tested using an all-solid-state SG coupled with large-area SOS diodes (1 cm 2 ). With this combination, a voltage pulse of 62 kV having a rise time of only 11 ns was obtained on an open circuit load (3 pF, 1 M Ω ). The experiments were highly repeatable, with no damage to the components despite multiple tests. There is significant scope to further improve the results, with simple alterations to the SG.
Date Issued
2023-10-01
Date Acceptance
2023-05-01
Citation
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2023, 51 (10), pp.2858-2856
ISSN
0093-3813
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Start Page
2858
End Page
2856
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Volume
51
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2023 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/tps.2023.3273813
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-05-25