title: Powered oscillator using ignitron switches.
abstract: A 10-MVA-scale resonant oscillator, powered by a pulse-forming network and switched with a pair of commutating mercury ignitrons, was developed for the MST reversed-field pinch plasma-confinement experiment. A novel feature of this circuit is its commutation mechanism, wherein each turning on of one ignitron causes a reverse voltage transient that turns off the other. Two of these oscillators are used in oscillating-field current-drive tests, in which they are capable of nearly 1MW net input power to the plasma, with resonant frequencies of a few 100 Hz for pulse durations of a few tens of ms, being precharged for immediate full amplitude. We describe the circuit and its operation, and discuss features that allow reliable, high-current commutation of the ignitrons and exploit their low switching impedance.
authors: Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors: P D
authors: PD
authors: Nonn
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Blair
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: McCollam
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Sarff
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Stone