Efficient pulsed power generation

A highly efficient pulsed power generator is modeled and developed to drive a single-stage plasmoid thruster. The pulsed power generator is characterized by its energy being stored in capacitors. This energy can be released in the form of pulsed power to the thruster coils by means of fast response switching devices. The conventional approach in pulsed power design results in producing a ¿ringing¿ effect due to the back and forth transfers of energy between the capacitors and the coils. A modification of the pulsed power generator design by the introduction of diodes eliminates the ringing and the associated wastage of energy. Preliminary results based on a small-scale experimental model indicate that the approach is viable and can produce highly efficient repetitive single pulse power for thruster applications.