2.5 MW average-power crossatron switch operation in a square-wave modulator circuit

Abstract

The demonstrated average-power-modulating capability of the XTRON-4b crossatron switch has been advanced to 2.5 MW at average current. Tests are described in which the switch was integrated into a simple square-wave, resistive-load modulator circuit consisting of a 10 MW power supply, a capacitor bank, and a water-tank load. The switch operated successfully at 140 A peak current, 32.2 kV open-circuit voltage, and 77.2 A average current with 1.2 ms pulsewidth and 500 Hz pulse repetition frequency (PRF) (60% duty). This advanced performance represents 2.5 MW of high-speed power-modulating capability. At higher voltages, 500 kW was modulated at 50 kV and 1 kHz PRF, and 250 kW was modulated at 75 kV and 100 Hz PRF.<>