Explosive pulsed power to drive a vacuum tube

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of explosive pulsed power to generate high-power pulses and efficiently drive vacuum tubes for high-frequency radiation sources, emphasizing high energy storage and flexible load matching.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using explosive pulsed power for high-energy, high-current pulses to improve vacuum tube driven radiation sources.

Findings

Explosive pulsed power can store and deliver higher specific energy.

The method allows flexible matching with loads via pulse forming networks.

Potential for enhanced high-power electromagnetic radiation generation.

Abstract

Development of high-power pulsed radiation sources in any frequency range requires both generation of high power to drive the source and increasing the efficiency of supplied power to radiated electromagnetic field conversion. The former implies generation of high power (that is equal to high-voltage and high-current) pulses. The latter means use of an electron beam moving in vacuum to produce intense radiation: high electron beam current or high current density combined with large cross-section of interaction area are required. Explosive pulsed power could contribute to both of the above being capable to store and deliver much higher specific energy as compared to either dielectrics or magnetics and providing high flexibility for matching with a load by the use of a pulse forming network. Piecemeal matching of explosively driven power supply with the HPM producing load (vacuum tube) is described.