Interfacing transformer for a pulsed load current exceeding 1 MA

In much pulsed power experimentation a capacitor bank is discharged into an inductive load, but although sufficient energy may be available in the capacitors their voltage rating may considerably exceed that necessary for the load and the current delivered during the experiment may accordingly be too low. This paper describes a novel design of air-cored transformer that has been used as an interfacing or matching device in such a situation, where peak load currents between 1 and 2 MA were required. Design considerations led to the use of an air-cored autotransformer connection wound with copper sheet conductors. Although thick wide conductors and clamping are needed to prevent deformation due to high magnetic pressure, the transformer is nevertheless relatively simple, easy to make, lightweight and inexpensive. This paper describes the design and the winding arrangement of the transformer that was constructed, and presents typical experimental results.