Linear transformer driver: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:29, 29 August 2012

Revision as of 16:31, 29 August 2012

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{{Context|date=April 2010}}

The '''linear transformer driver''' (LTD) is a low-voltage variant of the [[inductive voltage adder]] (IVA) technology first applied at [[Arzamas-16]] (now [[Sarov]]), Russia and later at the Institute for high-current electronics ([[IHCE]]) in [[Tomsk]], Russia. The [[Hermes III]] gamma-ray simulatorgenerator at [[Sandia National Laboratories]] is another example of an IVA design. In IVA designs, each megavolt “stage” is added in series to the proceeding stage using large iron cores to inductively isolate the individual stages. This concept permits a very large voltage to be generated by adding the voltage from each stage in series. Hermes III delivers a peak voltage of 20 MV to an [[electron beam]] loaded to the device.

LTDs use the same IVA concept but use low voltage components. Each individual cavity (similar to an IVA stage) operates at an [[open circuit]] voltage typically in the range of 100 kV to 200 kV. There is no high-voltage switching or pulse forming! An LTD cavity is composed of a number of "bricks" connected in parallel. The choice of the brick [[capacitance]], [[resistance]], and [[inductance]] defines the base pulse shape of the brick, and therefore the pulse shape and current of the cavity and, finally, the module. There are no further pulse-forming components. The efficiency of energy coupling from the [[storage capacitor]]s to the load is very high, typically over 60–70%.