Advances in Pulsed Power Technology – serie

Pulsed power technology, in the simplest of terms, usually concerns the storage of electrical energy over relatively long times and then its rapid release over a comparatively short period. However, if we leave the definition at that, we miss a multitude of aspects that are important in the ultimate application of pulsed power. It is, in fact, the application of pulsed power technology to which this series of texts will be focused. Pulsed power in today's broader sense means "special power" as opposed to the tra­ ditional situation of high voltage impulse issues related to the utility industry. Since the pulsed power field is primarily application driven, it has principally an engineering flavor. Today' s applications span those from materials processing, such as metal forming by pulsed magnetic fields, to other varied applications, such as psy­ chedelic strobe lights or radar modulators. Very high peak power applications occur in research for inertial confinement fusion, the Strategic Defense Initiative and other historical defense uses. lri fact it is from this latter direction that pulsed power has real­ ized explosive growth over the past half century. Early thrusts were in electrically powered systems that simulated the environment or effects of nuclear weapons detonation. More recently it is being utilized as prime power sources for directed energy weapons, such as lasers, microwaves, particle beam weapons, and even mass drivers (kinetic energy weapons).

As indicated in the Foreword to this series on Advances in Pulsed Power Technologies, the pioneering roots of modern pulsed power as related by J.C. "Charlie" Martin and his co-workers of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, Reading UK is an important if not essential record of the experiential history of the major developer of pulsed power advances during the post-World War II period. It finds great utility as an instructive accounting of the trials, tribulations and, finally, an almost chronological walk through their thoughts as they diligently and happily travel the yellow brick road to success. It is recounted in the inimitable style of "Charlie" Martin as only he can relate, with some insightful perspectives by Mike Good­ man, a constant companion, and collaborator who shares his unique view of "Charlie" and the Aldermaston Group. This collection of selected articles is unique, for in large part, the documentation of their struggle and final triumph have not been formerly published in any archival manner. One reason, we suspect, was the defense-related application and significance of their work, compounded by the constant need for progress which did not allow for the time consuming preparation of formal submission to the literature. This also explains the "urgent" and sometimes terse manner of their writings. Yet the material remains remarkably current because we are dealing, in large measure, with pulsed systems less sensitive to those factors involved in slower pulsed scenarios.

Pulsed power technology, in the simplest of terms, usually concerns the storage of electrical energy over relatively long times and then its rapid release over a comparatively short period. However, if we leave the definition at that, we miss a multitude of aspects that are important in the ultimate application of pulsed power. It is, in fact, the application of pulsed power technology to which this series of texts will be foc~sed. Pulsed power in today's broader sense means "special power" as opposed to the traditional situation of high voltage impulse issues related to the utility industry. Since the pulsed power field is primarily application driven it has principally engineering flavor. Today's applications span those from materials processing, such as metal forming by pulsed magnetic fields, to commercial applications, such as psychedelic strobe lights or radar modulators. Very high peak power applica­ tions occur in research for inertial confinement fusion and the Strategic Defense Initiative and other historical defense uses. In fact it is from this latter direction that pulsed power has real­ ized explosive growth over the past half century. Early thrusts were in electrically powered systems that simulated the environment or effects of nuclear weapons detonation. More recently it is being utilized as prime power sources for directed energy weapons, such as lasers, microwaves, particle beam weapons, and even mass drivers (kinetic energy weapons).

As indicated in the Foreword to this series on Advances in Pulsed Power Technologies, the pioneering roots of modern pulsed power as related by J.C. "Charlie" Martin and his co-workers of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, Reading UK is an important if not essential record of the experiential history of the major developer of pulsed power advances during the post-World War II period. It finds great utility as an instructive accounting of the trials, tribulations and, finally, an almost chronological walk through their thoughts as they diligently and happily travel the yellow brick road to success. It is recounted in the inimitable style of "Charlie" Martin as only he can relate, with some insightful perspectives by Mike Good­ man, a constant companion, and collaborator who shares his unique view of "Charlie" and the Aldermaston Group. This collection of selected articles is unique, for in large part, the documentation of their struggle and final triumph have not been formerly published in any archival manner. One reason, we suspect, was the defense-related application and significance of their work, compounded by the constant need for progress which did not allow for the time consuming preparation of formal submission to the literature. This also explains the "urgent" and sometimes terse manner of their writings. Yet the material remains remarkably current because we are dealing, in large measure, with pulsed systems less sensitive to those factors involved in slower pulsed scenarios.