High voltage production from shaped piezoelectric transformers and piezoelectric transformer based circuits

Compact ion and electron beam sources are potentially useful for many applications. Compact beam generators require both compact charged particle diodes and compact high voltage generators. Piezoelectric transformers are currently being developed at the University of Missouri to convert medium voltage at radio frequency to high voltages. Piezoelectric transformer geometries, including tapered and wedge shaped crystals operated in bipolar output mode, are being studied. Results demonstrating resonant properties of these crystals will be presented. High voltage operation, in excess of 25 kV peak voltage, will also be presented. Additionally, various voltage multiplying circuit topologies and crystal geometries are being studied to maximize the voltage output from piezoelectric transformer systems.