A versatile high voltage (0/spl sim//spl plusmn/8 kV) bipolar pulse generator is being developed, which generates two rectangular pulses, i.e. a negative pulse with a subsequent positive pulse or vice versa. The negative pulse is applied to excite ferroelectric electron emission by polarization reversal while the successive positive pulse is applied to rapidly recover the remnant polarization and prepare for the next ferroelectric electron emission process. The amplitudes and widths, as well as the interval and repetition rate of the bipolar pulses can be adjusted continuously and independently. Two Blumlein pulse forming lines (PFLs) with fast-turn-on, fast-turn-off high voltage switches are used to build the bipolar pulse generator for a ferroelectric electron emission project. One Blumlein PFL generates a positive pulse and the other Blumlein PFL generates a negative pulse. The two Blumlein PFLs are charged at the same time and are discharged at different times, in order to generate the bipolar pulses. The circuit design was simulated by PSpice simulation software. The results of low voltage and high voltage tests are described.