Simple techniques for the generation of high peak power pulses with nanosecond and subnanosecond rise times

A simple method of generating high peak power pulses with nanosecond rise times is described. This method is based on the use of a drift step recovery diode (DSRD) in an inductive-capacitive storage circuit. A method for sharpening the rise time of the pulses generated using the DSRD to the subnanosecond range is also described. Experimental results show that pulses can be generated with amplitudes of 1.7 kV (into 50 Ω), rise times in the hundreds of picoseconds, and repetition rates of 10 kHz.