A compact high power microwave (HPM) source

A compact high power microwave (HPM) source is reported. It generates short pulses by direct excitation of an antenna with a 300 kV Marx generator. Oil insulation is used to protect capacitor banks from breakdown, while discharge gaps are designed to work in air. The Marx generator risetime is less than 50 ns. The disk-cone antenna is also oil-insulated and operates in the self-breakdown regime. Radiated pulse has the duration about 2 ns and the spectrum from 800 MHz to 2 GHz. The HPM source is used for studying the vulnerability of computers and different electronic components.