High voltage generation research with the TTHPM system at FOI
Publish date: 2002-01-01
Report number: FOI-R--0674--SE
Pages: 15
Written in: English
Abstract
The purpose of High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons is to generate one or several high amplitude microwave pulses, with the ability to disturb or destroy electronic equipment. Used on the electronic battlefield this can have severe impact on today´s C41-systems (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence), e.g. in the network based defence (NBD). The purpose of a power conditioning system is to adapt and transform the pulse obtained from the primary energy source to the requirements of the microwave source used. This usually means transforming a high current to a high voltage and shortening rise time of the pulse. This is accomplished in the TTHPM system using an intermediate storage inductor, an electrically exploded wire fuse opening switch and a spark gap closing switch. The research on the TTHPM system is financed by the Swedish Armed Forces. This report summarises the work with the TTHPM system and lesson learned during the last three years. Important conclusions are listed and the suitability for integration into an HPM warhead is discussed.