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.

Contenu
1 High Speed Pulsed Power Technology at Aldermaston.- 2 J.C. Charlie Martin, C.B.E..- 3 Brief and Probably Not Very Accurate History of Pulsed Power at Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Aldermaston.- 4 Nanosecond Pulse Techniques.- 5 Hull Lecture Notes.- Section 5a Hull Lecture Notes No. 1 Dielectric Breakdown and Tracking.- Section 5b Hull Lecture Notes No. 2 High Current Dielectric Breakdown Switching.- Section 5c Hull Lecture Notes No. 3 Marx-Like Generators and Circuits.- Section 5d Hull Lecture Notes No. 4 Fast Circuits, Diodes and Cathodes for e-Beams.- Section 5e Hull Lecture Notes No. 5 Odds and Sods.- 6 Gas Breakdown.- Section 6a Pressure Dependency of the Pulse Breakdown of Gases.- Section 6b D.C. Breakdown Voltages of Non-Unifora Gaps in Air.- Section 6c High Speed Pulse Breakdown of Pressurised Uniform Gaps.- Section 6d Pulsed Surface Tracking in Air and Various Gases.- Section 6e High Speed Breakdown of Small Air Gaps in Both Uniform Field and Surface Tracking Geometries.- 7 Liquid Breakdown.- Section 7a Comparison of Breakdown Voltages for Various Liquids under One Set of Conditions.- Section 7b A Possible High Voltage Water Streamer Velocity Relation.- Section 7c Large Area Water Breakdown.- Section 7d Interim Notes on Water Breakdown.- Section 7e Point Plane Breakdown of Oil at Voltages Above a Couple of Megavolts.- 8 Solid Breakdown.- Section 8a Volume Effect of the Pulsed Breakdown Voltage of Plastics.- Section 8b Pulse Life of Mylar.- Section 8c Pulse Breakdown of Large Volumes of Mylar in Thin Sheets.- 9 Fast Pulse Vacuum Flashover.- 10 Switching.- Section 10a Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Switches.- Section 10b Duration of the Resistive Phase and Inductance of Spark Channels.- Section 10c Multichannel Gaps.- Section 10d High Speed Breakdown ofPressurised Sulphur Hexafluoride and Air in Nearly Uniform Gaps.- Section 10e Four Element Low Voltage Irradiated Spark Gap.- 11 Beams.- Section 11a Performance of the Tom Martin Cathode.- Section 11b Electron Beam Diagnostics Using X-Rays.- 12 High Voltage Design Considerations.- Section 12a Measurement of the Conductivity of Copper Sulphate Solution.- Section 12b Electrostatic Grading Structures.- Section 12c Some Comments on Short Pulse 10 Terawatt Diodes.- Section 12d Pulse Charged Line for Laser Pumping.- Section 12e Notes for Report on the Generator 'TOM'.