A review of short pulse generator technology
TL;DR: A detailed discussion of the various circuit designs and a list of commercially available high-voltage pulse generators can be found in this article, along with a brief description of the three primary switch types, reed, spark gap, and solid state.
Abstract: Today's ultrafast, pulse generators are capable of producing high-voltage pulses, (>1 kV), with fast, leading-edge rise times, (<1 ns). A review of generator implementation methods is presented that includes a detailed discussion of the various circuit designs and a list of commercially available high-voltage pulse generators. All of these generators are capable of rise times less than a few ns and voltages greater than several hundred volts. Finally, a brief description of the three primary switch types, reed, spark gap, and solid state is presented.
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TL;DR: The intracellular effect extends conventional electroporation to cellular substructures and opens the potential for new applications in apoptosis induction, gene delivery to the nucleus, or altered cell functions, depending on the electrical pulse conditions.
Abstract: A simple electrical model for biological cells predicts an increasing probability for electric field interactions with cell substructures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells when the electric pulse duration is reduced into the sub-microsecond range. The validity of this hypothesis was verified experimentally by applying electrical pulses with electric field intensities of up to 5.3 MV/m to human eosinophils in vitro. When 3-5 pulses of 60 ns duration were applied to human eosinophils, intracellular granules were modified without permanent disruption of the plasma membrane. In spite of the extreme electrical power levels applied to the cells thermal effects could be neglected because of the ultrashort pulse duration. The intracellular effect extends conventional electroporation to cellular substructures and opens the potential for new applications in apoptosis induction, gene delivery to the nucleus, or altered cell functions, depending on the electrical pulse conditions.
600Â citations
17 Jun 2001
TL;DR: A new type of field-cell interaction, "Intracellular Electromanipulation", by means of nanosecond pulses at electric fields exceeding 50 kV/cm has been recently added to known bioelectric effects, having the potential to affect transport processes across subcellular membranes, and may be used for gene transfer into cell nuclei.
Abstract: Electric phenomena play an important role in biophysics. Bioelectric processes control the ion transport processes across membranes, and are the basis for information transfer along neurons. These electrical effects are generally triggered by chemical processes. However, it is also possible to control such cell functions and transport processes by applying pulsed electric fields. This area of bioengineering, bioelectrics, offers new applications for pulsed power technology. One such application is prevention of biofouling, an effect that is based on reversible electroporation of cell membranes. Pulsed electric fields of several kV/cm amplitude and submicrosecond duration have been found effective in preventing the growth of aquatic nuisance species on surfaces. Reversible electroporation is also used for medical applications, e.g. for delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor cells, for gene therapy, and for transdermal drug delivery. Higher electric fields cause irreversible membrane damage. Pulses in the microsecond range with electric field intensities in the tens of kV/cm are being used for bacterial decontamination of water and liquid food. A new type of field-cell interaction, "Intracellular Electromanipulation", by means of nanosecond pulses at electric fields exceeding 50 kV/cm has been recently added to known bioelectric effects. It is based on capacitive coupling to cell substructures, has therefore the potential to affect transport processes across subcellular membranes, and may be used for gene transfer into cell nuclei. There are also indications that it triggers intracellular processes, such as programmed cell death, an effect, which can be used for cancer treatment. In order to generate the required electric fields for these processes, high voltage, high current sources are required. The pulse duration needs to be short to prevent thermal effects. Pulse power technology is the enabling technology for bioelectrics. The field of bioelectrics, therefore opens up a new research area for pulse power engineers, with fascinating applications in biology and medicine.
326Â citations
Cites background from "A review of short pulse generator t..."
...to produce square wave pulses with voltage amplitudes of such a magnitude that electric fields of hundreds of kV/cm can be generated in vitro and in vivo bioelectric experiments [ 25 ]....
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TL;DR: Data indicate that submicrosecond pulses achieve temporally distinct effects on living cells compared to microsecond pulses, which result in rapid permeability changes in the surface membrane that are relatively homogeneous across the cell population, consistent with electroporation.
304Â citations
Cites background from "A review of short pulse generator t..."
...In this case, the energy stored in the cables is transferred into the load in the form of a rectangular power pulse, with the pulse duration determined by the length of the cable and the speed of electromagnetic waves in the dielectric of the cable (Mankowski and Kristiansen, 2000)....
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TL;DR: The effect of pulsed electric fields on the viability of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, in liquids has been studied since the 1960's as mentioned in this paper, and the model of membrane pore formation seems to fail only for ultrashort electrical pulses, where intracellular effects, and possibly resonant effects, might dominate.
Abstract: The effect of pulsed electric fields on the viability of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, in liquids has been studied since the 1960's. Experimental results obtained over a large range of electrical and microbiological parameters, point towards an irreversible formation of pores in the cell membrane as the mechanism for lysing. The model of membrane pore formation seems to fail only for ultrashort electrical pulses, where intracellular effects, and possibly resonant effects, might dominate. This paper presents an overview of the effect of pulsed electric fields on the viability of microorganisms in liquids, In particular, the lytic effect of variations in the electrical pulse parameters, such as pulse shape, amplitude, duration, and single shot vs. repetitive operation, is described, A major application of the pulsed electric field method is 'cold' bacterial decontamination of liquid food and drinking water. The energy consumption for complete bacterial decontamination is presently 100 to 400 kJ/l. A possible reduction of the required energy by utilizing intracellular electric field interactions and resonance effects is discussed.
219Â citations
Cites background from "A review of short pulse generator t..."
...Information on the design and operation of such circuits and the generators based on this concept (line-type pulsers) can be found in [37, 38 ]....
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21 Jun 2004
TL;DR: Semiconductor switches have greatly extended the scales of pulsed power parameters, especially in repetition rate and lifetime, and have enabled new areas of pulsing power applications, such as accelerators, flue-gas treatment, and gas lasers.
Abstract: Power semiconductor devices, such as insulated-gate bipolar transistors, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors, and static-induction thyristors, are used in different kinds of pulsed power generators developed for different applications. In addition, the semiconductor opening switch is found to have very effective applications in pulsed power generation by inductive energy storage. Semiconductor switches have greatly extended the scales of pulsed power parameters, especially in repetition rate and lifetime. They have also enabled new areas of pulsed power applications, such as accelerators, flue-gas treatment, and gas lasers.
215Â citations
Cites background from "A review of short pulse generator t..."
...In the last two decades, switching technology has greatly changed the concept of pulsed power and its applications [1], [2]....
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References
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Book•
26 Jul 1989
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a simulation of power switch-mode converters for zero-voltage and/or zero-current switchings in power electronic converters and systems.
Abstract: Partial table of contents: Overview of Power Semiconductor Switches Computer Simulation of Power Electronic Converters and Systems GENERIC POWER ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS dc--dc Switch-Mode Converters Resonant Converters: Zero-Voltage and/or Zero-Current Switchings POWER SUPPLY APPLICATIONS Power Conditioners and Uninterruptible Power Supplies MOTOR DRIVE APPLICATIONS dc Motor Drives Induction Motor Drives Synchronous Motor Drives OTHER APPLICATIONS Residential and Industrial Applications Optimizing the Utility Interface with Power Electronic Systems SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES Basic Semiconductor Physics Power Diodes Power MOSFETs Thyristors Emerging Devices and Circuits PRACTICAL CONVERTER DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS Snubber Circuits Gate and Base Drive Circuits Design of Magnetic Components Index
5,911Â citations
"A review of short pulse generator t..." refers methods in this paper
...A practical pn junction diode is shown in Fig. 16 [ 14 ]....
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01 Jan 1993
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a method for robust target identification using a Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test (GMRT) using a generalized likelihood ratio test (GRRT).
Abstract: PULSE GENERATION AND DETECTION: Semiconductor Switching: The Time Evolution of Photonic Crystal Bandgaps (K. Agi et al.). General: Ultrawideband Pulser Technology (D.M. Parkes). ANTENNAS: Impulse Radiating Antennas: Transient Fields of Rectangular Aperture Antennas (S.P. Sulkin). Reflector Impulse Radiating Antennas: Temporal and Spectral Radiation on Boresight of a Reflector Type of Impulse Radiating Antenna (IRA) (D.V. Giri, C.E. Baum). Lens Impulse Radiating Antennas and TEM Horns: Design of the Low-Frequency Compensation of an Extreme-Bandwidth TEM Horn and Lens IRA (M.H. Vogel). Arrays: Transient Arrays (C.E> Baum). General: Some Basic Properties of Antennas Associated with Ultra-wideband Radiation (S.N. Samaddar, E.L. Mokole). PULSE PROPOGATION AND GUIDEANCE: Transient Dielectric Coefficient and Conductance in Dielectric Media in Nonstationary Fields (A. Gutman). SCATTERING THEORY, COMPUTATION, AND MEASUREMENTS: Early Time Signature Analysis of Dielectric Targets Using UWB Radar (S. Cloude et al.). SIGNAL PROCESSING: Time-Frequency Analysis: Feature Extraction from Electromagnetic Backscattered Data Using Joint Time-Frequency Processing (L.C. Trintinalia, H. Ling). Spectral Techniques: The E-Pulse Technique for Dispersive Scatterers (S. Primak et al.). Probabilistic Considerations: Robust Target Identification Using a Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test (J.E. Mooney et al.). General: Error Correction in Transient Electromagnetic Field Measurements Using Deconvolution Techniques (J-Z. Bao et al.). BROADBAND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS: Systems and Components: Ultra-wideband Sources and Antennas: Present Technology, Future Challenges (W.D. Prather et al.). Ultra-Wideband Radars: Dense Media Penetrating Radar (K. Min, M. Willis, Jr.). Polarimetric Ultra-wideband Radars: Polarimetry in Ultra-wideband Interferometric SEnsing and Imaging (W-M. Boerner, J.S. Verdi). BURIED TARGETS: Analytic Methods for Pulsed Signal Interaction with Layered, Lossy Soil Environments and Buried Objects (L.B. Felsen). 41 additional articles. Index.
179Â citations
Book•
01 Jan 1976
TL;DR: A brief history of the permanent magnet terms and definitions classification of permanent magnets and materials basic manufacturing processes fundamentals of magnetism general design considerations leakage and fringing circuit effects exact design methods environmental effects measurement and testing magnetisation, demagnetisation, stabilisation and calibration mechanical considerations standards, specifications and purchasing typical circuits and applications.
Abstract: A new approach to the study of permanent magnets a brief history of the permanent magnet terms and definitions classification of permanent magnets and materials basic manufacturing processes fundamentals of magnetism general design considerations leakage and fringing circuit effects exact design methods environmental effects measurement and testing magnetisation, demagnetisation, stabilisation and calibration mechanical considerations standards, specifications and purchasing typical circuits and applications.
81Â citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the breakdown characteristics of dielectric media at short time lengths and high voltages were investigated for several liquids and high-pressure gases, including air, N/sub 2/, H/ sub 2/, SF/sub 6/, and transformer oil.
Abstract: Present-day ultra-wideband radiation sources produce Megavolt pulses at hundreds of picosecond (ps) risetimes. Empirical data on the breakdown characteristics for dielectric media at these short time lengths and high voltages are either extremely limited or nonexistent. In support of the design of these ultra-wideband sources, we are investigating the breakdown characteristics, at these voltages and time lengths, of several liquids and high-pressure gases. These include air, N/sub 2/, H/sub 2/, SF/sub 6/, and transformer oil. Gap voltages attained were over 700 kV and gas pressures were over 150 atm (15 MPa). Breakdown times achieved were on the order of 600 ps. Electric field strengths observed for given breakdown times were higher than predicted by other investigators. An empirical fit is presented for the data obtained.
54Â citations
"A review of short pulse generator t..." refers methods in this paper
...This technique was used by the authors to build a Marx driven PFL capable of producing a 700 kV pulse into a high impedance with a 400-ps rise time and a 4-ns pulsewidth [ 3 ]....
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21 Jun 1993
TL;DR: In this article, a nanosecond semiconductor opening switch (SOS) has been developed which has a pulsed power of the GW range and voltage levels of up to a few 100's of kV.
Abstract: A novel nanosecond semiconductor opening switch (SOS) has been developed which has a pulsed power of the GW range and voltage levels of up to a few 100's of kV. The SOS is based on high-voltage solid state rectifiers and is designed for pulsed power generators with inductive energy storage. A 30 115 opening phase duration. a 45 k A interrupted current. and a 450 kV opened SOS voltage have been attained with the use of a three-stage, 2 kJ. 150 kV open circuit Marx generator as the SOS driver. On the basis of the experimental results obtained, we have developed and tested repetitive high-current generators and accelerators with a 0.5 MV output voltage and a 15 to 100 ns pulse width. The ideology is presented of constructing high-power megavolt pulsed generators with an all-solid-state switching system. A description is provided of the setups developed on this principle. We discuss features peculiar to the setups developed and prospects of developing these further .
51Â citations