SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS & RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. SBIR Phase II Award, March 2023

New technological advancements in high power microwave (HPM) sources have sparked a renewed interest in HPM weapons in many DOD entities. These new giga-watt (GW) class sources require fast, repeatable, high voltage, high power driving pulses in order to perform optimally. Traditionally, sources of this caliber have been driven with spark gap switched pulse generators. While remaining a highly viable option for HPM source driving, spark gap switched systems have several inherent limitations that detract from their attractiveness as next generation HPM drivers. Those limitations include debilitating plasma recovery times, restrictive switch electrode ablation, and high shot-to-shot jitter, which combine to reduce achievable pulse repetition rates, system lifetimes, and pulse reproducibility. However, as solid-state switching technologies continue to improve, fully solid-state systems are becoming capable of performing in GW-class HPM systems. Previous Russian work shows the feasibility of using semiconductor opening switches (SOS) as drivers for nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) HPM sources at peak power levels above a giga-watt. During Phase I of this SBIR effort SARA conducted a trade study between an improved spark gap switched Marx generator and a fully solid-state Marx generator driving an SOS output stage. The analysis demonstrated both approaches to be capable of meeting the Navy and Air Forces performance requirements. Due to considerably higher performance capability, developments from US sourced opening switch R&D, and DOD input, SARA has elected the solid-state SOS architecture for further advancement in this Phase II. The effort will leverage SARA’s ability to develop and field capable high voltage HPM drivers coupled with a long history evaluating, testing, and packaging state-of-the-art (SotA) silicon (Si) and silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor die into large pulse power systems. Additionally, American investment in SotA diode opening switch (DOS) manufacturing, testing, and fielding expertise will enable a first of its kind in the US sourced fully solid-state pulse generator development.