New model for ultracompact coaxial Marx pulse generator simulations

This article describes a new simulation model developed with PSPICE in order to improve the ultra compact Marx generators designed at the French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL). The proposed model is based on a Marx elementary unit and is an equivalent electric circuit that matches the actual configuration of the generator. It consists of a structural description of the elementary stage of a Marx generator including stray components. It also includes a behavioral model of the spark gap switches based on the Vlastos formula determining the arc resistance value. The prebreakdown delay is also taken into account. Experimental data have been used to validate the results of the simulations. An original indirect measurement, allowing the estimation of the spark gap resistance, is also proposed.