Ebook: J. C. Martin on Pulsed Power

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.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xix
High Speed Pulsed Power Technology at Aldermaston....Pages 1-13
J.C. “Charlie” Martin, C.B.E....Pages 15-19
Brief and Probably Not Very Accurate History of Pulsed Power at Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Aldermaston....Pages 21-33
Nanosecond Pulse Techniques....Pages 35-74
Hull Lecture No. 1 Dielectric Breakdown and Tracking....Pages 75-94
Hull Lecture No 2, High Current Dielectric Breakdown Switching....Pages 95-105
Hull Lecture No. 3 Marx-Like Generators and Circuits....Pages 107-116
Hull Lecture No. 4 Fast Circuits, Diodes and Cathodes for e-Beams....Pages 117-123
Hull Lecture No. 5 Odds and Sods....Pages 125-133
Pressure Dependency of the Pulse Breakdown of Gases....Pages 135-138
D.C. Breakdown Voltages of Non-Uniform Gaps in Air....Pages 139-144
High Speed Pulse Breakdown of Pressurised Uniform Gaps....Pages 145-154
Pulsed Surface Tracking in Air and Various Gases....Pages 155-168
High Speed Breakdown of Small Air Gaps in Both Uniform Field and Surface Tracking Geometries....Pages 169-175
Comparison of Breakdown Voltages for Various Liquids Under One Set of Conditions....Pages 177-179
A Possible High Voltage Water Streamer Velocity Relation....Pages 181-184
Velocity Of Propagation of High Voltage Streamers in Several Liquids....Pages 185-190
Large Area Water Breakdown....Pages 191-199
Interim Notes on Water Breakdown....Pages 201-223
Point Plane Breakdown of Oil at Voltages Above a Couple of Megavolts....Pages 225-226
Volume Effect of the Pulse Breakdown Voltage of Plastics....Pages 227-233
Pulse Life of Mylar....Pages 235-243
Pulse Breakdown of Large Volumes of Mylar in Thin Sheets....Pages 245-253
Fast Pulse Vacuum Flashover....Pages 255-259
Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Switches....Pages 261-285
Duration of the Resistive Phase and Inductance of Spark Channels....Pages 287-293
Multichannel Gaps....Pages 295-333
High Speed Breakdown of Pressurised Sulphur Hexafluoride and Air in Nearly Uniform Gaps....Pages 335-349
Four Element Low Voltage Irradiated Spark Gap....Pages 351-366
Performance of the Tom Martin Cathode....Pages 367-373
Electron Beam Diagnostics Using X-Rays....Pages 375-412
Measurement of the Conductivity of Copper Sulphate Solution....Pages 413-415
Electrostatic Grading Structures....Pages 417-423
Some Comments on Short Pulse 10 Terawatt Diodes....Pages 425-438
Pulse Charged Line for Laser Pumping....Pages 439-487
Notes for Report on the Generator ‘Tom’....Pages 489-535
Back Matter....Pages 537-546

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xix
High Speed Pulsed Power Technology at Aldermaston....Pages 1-13
J.C. “Charlie” Martin, C.B.E....Pages 15-19
Brief and Probably Not Very Accurate History of Pulsed Power at Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Aldermaston....Pages 21-33
Nanosecond Pulse Techniques....Pages 35-74
Hull Lecture No. 1 Dielectric Breakdown and Tracking....Pages 75-94
Hull Lecture No 2, High Current Dielectric Breakdown Switching....Pages 95-105
Hull Lecture No. 3 Marx-Like Generators and Circuits....Pages 107-116
Hull Lecture No. 4 Fast Circuits, Diodes and Cathodes for e-Beams....Pages 117-123
Hull Lecture No. 5 Odds and Sods....Pages 125-133
Pressure Dependency of the Pulse Breakdown of Gases....Pages 135-138
D.C. Breakdown Voltages of Non-Uniform Gaps in Air....Pages 139-144
High Speed Pulse Breakdown of Pressurised Uniform Gaps....Pages 145-154
Pulsed Surface Tracking in Air and Various Gases....Pages 155-168
High Speed Breakdown of Small Air Gaps in Both Uniform Field and Surface Tracking Geometries....Pages 169-175
Comparison of Breakdown Voltages for Various Liquids Under One Set of Conditions....Pages 177-179
A Possible High Voltage Water Streamer Velocity Relation....Pages 181-184
Velocity Of Propagation of High Voltage Streamers in Several Liquids....Pages 185-190
Large Area Water Breakdown....Pages 191-199
Interim Notes on Water Breakdown....Pages 201-223
Point Plane Breakdown of Oil at Voltages Above a Couple of Megavolts....Pages 225-226
Volume Effect of the Pulse Breakdown Voltage of Plastics....Pages 227-233
Pulse Life of Mylar....Pages 235-243
Pulse Breakdown of Large Volumes of Mylar in Thin Sheets....Pages 245-253
Fast Pulse Vacuum Flashover....Pages 255-259
Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Switches....Pages 261-285
Duration of the Resistive Phase and Inductance of Spark Channels....Pages 287-293
Multichannel Gaps....Pages 295-333
High Speed Breakdown of Pressurised Sulphur Hexafluoride and Air in Nearly Uniform Gaps....Pages 335-349
Four Element Low Voltage Irradiated Spark Gap....Pages 351-366
Performance of the Tom Martin Cathode....Pages 367-373
Electron Beam Diagnostics Using X-Rays....Pages 375-412
Measurement of the Conductivity of Copper Sulphate Solution....Pages 413-415
Electrostatic Grading Structures....Pages 417-423
Some Comments on Short Pulse 10 Terawatt Diodes....Pages 425-438
Pulse Charged Line for Laser Pumping....Pages 439-487
Notes for Report on the Generator ‘Tom’....Pages 489-535
Back Matter....Pages 537-546
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