Recent studies on pulsed power technology in National University of Defense Technology (invited)

With the rapid advancement of pulsed power technology, there is an increasing demand for compact, long-lifetime, and solid-state high-power pulse drivers to meet the requirements of modern high-tech devices and directed-energy systems, such as applications for flash radiography, Z-pinch, High Power Microwave (HPM), electromagnetic launch, and industrial processing, etc. National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) has long been dedicated to research on generating intense relativistic electron beams using pulsed high voltage for driving HPM sources. This study aims to review the recent progress and future trends in high power pulse driver technology at NUDT. Over the past decade, extensive research has been conducted, leading to significant advancements in compressing energy in time and space to generate high voltage pulse, mainly including three key technical approaches: high energy density dielectric pulse modulation, Marx generator technology, and solid-state pulse modulation technology. All technical routes continuously focus on comprehensive performance metrics, such as power-to-weight ratio, waveform quality, service life, system efficiency, operational jitter, online monitoring and cost control, to promote the applicability of pulse drivers in a wider range of complex scenarios. The review demonstrate great potential for developing next-generation pulsed power systems, providing robust solutions for creating extreme electromagnetic environments and enhancing the capabilities of advanced radar and directed-energy applications.