Photoconductive switch enhancements for use in Blumlein pulse generators Available to Purchase

Stacked Blumlein pulse generators developed at the University of Texas at Dallas have produced high-power waveforms with risetimes and repetition rates in the range of 0.2–50 ns and 1–300 Hz, respectively, using a conventional thyratron, spark gap or photoconductive switch. Adaptation of the design has enabled the stacked Blumleins to produce 80 MW, nanosecond pulses with risetimes better than 200 ps into nominally matched loads. The device has a compact line geometry and is commutated by a single GaAs photoconductive switch triggered by a low power laser diode array. Our current investigations involve the switch characteristics that affect the broadening of the current channels in the avalanche, pre-avalanche seedings, the switch lifetime and the durability. This report presents the progress toward improving the GaAs switch operation and lifetime in stacked Blumlein pulsers. Advanced switch treatments including diamond film overcoating are implemented and discussed.