Repetitive High-Voltage Pulse Generator Based on Thermally Depolarized Ferroelectrics

Abstract

We present a repetitive, non-destructive system for generating high-voltage pulses through fast, controlled thermal depolarization of pre-polarized ferroelectric ceramics. This system represents a significant advance in compact pulsed-power devices, where energy is stored in pre-polarized ferroelectrics. In our device, the ferroelectric pre-polarized ceramic is heated above the Curie temperature in a short, well-defined time interval, releasing the stored electrostatic energy bound by spontaneous polarization as a high-voltage pulse with rise times in the 20–50 ns range, peak amplitudes between 50 and 500 kV, and repetition rates from 0.1 to 10 Hz without material degradation. The system incorporates dedicated subsystems for rapid heating, liquid dielectric insulation, reverse-current blocking, adjustable spark-gap switching, nanosecond-scale diagnostics, and active cooling. Applications include high-power microwave generation, compact X-ray flash radiography, high-power laser pumping, and various medical and industrial sectors requiring compact, reusable pulsed-power sources.