Vector inversion generator: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Vector inversion generator.png|alt=Vector inversion generator|thumb|A 3-stage discrete component vector inversion generator.]]

A '''vector inversion generator''' ('''VIG''') is an electric pulse compression and voltage multiplication device, allowing shaping a slower, lower voltage pulse to a narrower, higher-voltage one. VIGs are used in military technology, e.g. some [[directed-energy weapon]]s, as a secondary stage of another pulsed power source, commonly an [[explosive-driven ferroelectric generator]].

==Construction==

Discrete component VIGs (pictured) consist of a stack of well-coupled common mode chokes interconnected with a stack of capacitors, they are conceptually equivalent to the distributed component spiral VIG. The capacitors are charged with alternating polarity and when the switch (a spark gap in practice) is closed every second capacitor rapidly inverts in polarity due to the low reactance seen by a differential current flowing through the common mode chokes whereas the other capacitors discharge very slowly due to not having a differential current flowing to cancel the reactance. Discrete components allow large capacitors to be used thus storing much more energy, but cannot provide the high multiplication ratios and extremely short rise times of spiral transmission line types.

A spiral VIG consists of four alternating conductor-insulator-conductor-insulator sheets, wound into a cylinder, forming a [[capacitor]] also acting as a single-ended [[transmission line]], connected to a [[spark gap]] switch. The capacitor is charged from a power source, e.g. the EDFEG, then the spark gap fires after its [[breakdown voltage]] is reached. The [[electromagnetic wave]] created by the [[electric spark]] discharge travels along the transmission line, converting [[electrostatic field]] to [[electromagnetic field]], then after reflecting from the open end converts back to electrostatic field. A pulse of output amplitude 2nU (where n is the number of turns of the capacitor and U is the initial voltage it was charged to) and a rise time equal to twice the [[electrical length (transmission medium)|electrical length]] of the transmission line.<ref>http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/post_prints/pdf/physics_09007dcc80588630.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.boliven.com/patent/US7151330/drawings</ref><ref>http://shadaly.com/vector_inversion_generator_4507567.html</ref> The device acts as a distributed [[pulse forming network]].