Development and testing of bulk photoconductive switches used for ultra-wideband, high-power microwave generation

J. W. Burger, J. S.H. Schoenberg, J. S. Tyo, M. D. Abdalla, S. M. Ahern, M. C. Skipper, W. R. Buchwald

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Air Force Philips Laboratory, in collaboration with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), is developing lateral geometry, high-power photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS) for use in phased-array, ultra-wideband (UWB) sources. The current switch utilizes an opposed contact geometry with a 0.25 cm gap spacing and is an extension of previous work on 1.0 cm PCSS devices. This work presents the development and demonstration of the 0.25 cm PCSS under both ideal laboratory conditions and potential source conditions. The laboratory configuration consists of two high bandwidth transmission lines connected with a PCSS. The potential source configuration consists of a vector-conversion pulse generator (Blumlein) commuted with a PCSS. Independent, low jitter PCSS operation is demonstrated by series coupling two independent Blumleins into a common load. The 0.25 cm PCSS is shown to operate at st 20 kV charge voltage, 65 ps rms switching jitter, less than 450 ps risetime and greater than 1 kHz pulse repetition rate (PRR) when triggered using a compact, high-power laser diode.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages965-969
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 1997
EventProceedings of the 1997 11th International Pulsed Power Conference. Part 2 (of 2) - Baltimore, MD, USA
Duration: Jun 29 1997Jul 2 1997

Other

OtherProceedings of the 1997 11th International Pulsed Power Conference. Part 2 (of 2)
CityBaltimore, MD, USA
Period6/29/977/2/97

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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