Design and Simulation of a Compact Sub-Nanosecond Pulse Generator Based on Marx's Circuit Theory of Field-Effect Transistors

High-voltage ultrafast pulses can be effectively used to control the gated traveling-wave amplitude division of microchannel plates. In view of that and according to the microstrip transmission theory, this study proposes a pulse generator based on the Marx circuit of a field-effect tube. In this study, detailed designs of the proposed pulse generator are presented and validated by simulations using the OrCAD PSpice. An experimental setup is constructed to demonstrate the viability of the proposed design. Finally, an optimized pulse with a 2.2-kV amplitude and a 220-ps width is generated. This article provides a reference for future design of advanced direct capacitor discharge pulse generator with adjustable pulse parameters using the silicon carbide field effect.