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Marx GeneratorA Marx generator is a type of electrical circuit whose primary purpose is the generation of a high voltage impulse. It was first described by Erwin Marx in 1924. They are used by Sandia National Laboratories to generate X-rays with their Z Machine. They can also be used as an ignition switch for thermonuclear devices. Another use is to simulate lightning strikes. A series of capacitors are charged in parallel to a given voltage (E) and then discharged in series with a given voltage of (nE) where "n" is the number of capacitors charged. Selection of the type of capacitor, as well as the timing of the discharge, is all key to the system working properly. Things can be done to improve the switching times, such as doping of the electrodes with radioactive isotopes cesium 137 or nickel 63. Placing the device in a nitrogen atmosphere may also help. Note that the voltages across the capacitors are not the same initially, with the first capacitor (on the left) having the greatest charge rate and highest initial voltage. Triggering is only required on the first switch, and may occur automatically as the first capacitor reaches a certain voltage. The subsequent switches are designed to then be triggered by overload, in a cascading fashion. The trigger may also be initiated manually; in this case the first switch is not designed to automatically fire, but subsequent switches are. The resistors, Rc, need to be sized for both charging and discharge, since they supply current to maintain the spark gap. The resistors may be replaced with inductors for improved efficiency. External Links *Marx Impulse Generators - Professional Equipment for Serious Research
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