Development of a dual-polarity Marx generator designed for pulse charging a dipole antenna

Dipole antennas have recently seen a lot of use for the generation of high-power, wideband RF. Typically, a single-ended pulse generator, such as a Marx generator or a Vector Inversion Generator (VIG) pulse charges a dipole, which has an integrated resonator. Once charged, the resonator switches and the cyclic energy is dissipated by the dipole geometry. There is a desire to increase the radiated field strengths of these devices, which requires larger pulse charge voltages. Applied Physical Electronics, L.C. (APELC) has been developing a dual-polarity Marx generator for pulse charging the dipole with a double ended, or a balanced source, hoping to achieve greater efficiencies in the radiated electric field. The APELC generator is capable of delivering +/− 300 kV pulses onto 50-Ohm coaxial cables, with low temporal jitter. This paper discusses the design of the generator, as well as experimental results. Included, is a comparison of the dipole radiation when sourced by a single ended charge versus a double ended charge.