Fast and Flexible, Arbitrary Waveform, 20-kV, Solid-State, Impedance-Matched Marx Generator

developed a new pulsed power supply to study the influence of the high-voltage (HV) pulse shape on the generation of plasma-activated water (PAW). This article shows the design and implementation of the generator and evaluates its performance on resistive loads. The design is an improved version of the solid-state impedance-matched Marx generator (SS-IMG) concept as previously developed at Eindhoven University of Technology. The IMG concept allows for sub-nanosecond rise time pulses, to be able to create a nonthermal plasma very efficiently. A conventional SS-Marx generator (SS-Marx) circuit is taken as the starting point, and a careful implementation is made with most electrical connections analyzed as transmission lines (TLs). All these TLs are impedance-matched to each other and the load. The implemented generator is able to generate 25 ns to mu s duration pulses of 20 kV up to 10-kHz repetition rate in a 50-omega load with about 8 ns rise time and arbitrary pulse shape. Future improvements are suggested which will increase the repetition rate and decrease the pulse rise time to the sub nanosecond regime.

Automated summary

A new pulsed power supply was developed to study the impact of high-voltage pulse shape on the generation of plasma-activated water (PAW). This article presents the design and implementation of the generator, as well as its performance evaluation on resistive loads. The implemented generator is capable of producing pulses with a duration ranging from 25 ns to μs, a voltage of 20 kV, and a repetition rate of up to 10 kHz, while achieving an 8 ns rise time and arbitrary pulse shape.