Magnetic switches and circuits

Abstract : This report outlines the use of saturable inductors as switches in lumped-element, magnetic-pulse compression circuits. The operation of the three basic types of magnetic pulse compression circuits is discussed and the characteristic use of each is defined. In addition, the geometric constraints and magnetic pulse compression circuits used in short-pulse, low-inductance systems are considered. The scaling of presaturation leakage currents, magnetic energy losses, and switching times with geometrical and material parameters are developed to aid in evaluating magnetic pulse compression systems in a particular application. Finally, a scheme for increasing the coupling coefficient in saturable stripline transformers is proposed to enable their use in the short-pulse, high-voltage regime.