Compact LTD Stage Based on a New Capacitor-Switch Assembly

The paper presents a compact linear transformer driver (LTD) based on a recently designed HCElcsa 160-0.1 capacitor-switch assembly. The LTD stage comprises twelve capacitor-switch assemblies (CSAs) connected in parallel to a matched load and ferromagnetic cores of total cross-section 90 cm2 made of an amorphous 2NSR alloy tape 30 μm thick (analogue of Metglass). The outer diameter of the stage is ≈1 m, and its height is 0.45 m. Estimations suggest that when switched in sync, such CSAs can provide a current pulse with an amplitude of 1.1 MA and rise time of ~100 ns at a matched load of 0.067 Ohm, which corresponds to a pulsed power of 80 GW. The small overall dimensions and the high output power of the LTD stage can allow its successful use as a driver of low-impedance loads in laboratory studies and as a standard element of pulsed power accelerators.