Compact High Power Repetitive Pulsed Power Instrumentation

摘要

The vacuum system, pulse generator and oscilloscopes are used for pseudospark-BLT switch research. The pumping system is for achieving necessary high vacuum conditions. Observations of cell membrane perturbation in real time with sub-nanosecond time resolution is made possible by the PicoStar HR-12 CCD camera system and its custom table purchased under this AFOSR Grant. This High- Speed CCD camera system is a component of AFOSR-supported Transient Plasma Ignition research as well. The scopes and pulse generator provide diagnosis, analysis, and control of experiments requiring accurate, fast diagnostics. Implementation of these systems has enabled results in pulsed power switching, and applications of pulsed power to biology, and ignition and combustion. Switching research includes investigation of small BLT switches for compact pulse generation, which will reported this year at an AFOSR MURI review, and technical meetings including the Intl. Conf. on Plasma Science. Biology includes real-time observation of Ca bursts in human lymphocytes, reported in Biophysical and Biochemical Research Communications, and at other reviews and conferences. Ignition includes development of transient plasma ignition, which reduces delays to ignition in applications such as pulse detonation engines.