Ultrafast, high voltage pulser using circumferentially illuminated, laser- switched radial transmission line

摘要

A pulse signal generator apparatus for producing an ultrafast, high- voltage pulser using a circumferentially illuminated, laser- switched radial transmission line transformer. The apparatus includes a radial transmission line transformer having a circular plate structure which can be coupled to a voltage source that becomes conductive upon the application thereto of a predetermined type of light energy. A laser switching device which is integral with the radial transmission line transformer and surrounds the circular plate structure, operates to switch an input electrical pulse of a predetermined peak voltage, injected at a circumferential edge of the circular plate structure onto a peripheral surface of the circular plate structure, to produce an output electrical pulse having a substantially higher peak voltage than the predetermined peak voltage of the input electrical pulse, at a center of the circular plate structure of the transmission line transformer. The apparatus also includes a laser for producing the predetermined type of light energy which illuminates the laser switching device.