A 10-MHz high-voltage modulator with pulse-width and repetition-rate agility

Requirements for control and rapid switching of the proton beam at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) are continually revised to support accelerator upgrades and modifications. A recent upgrade required the development of a 10-MHz high-voltage modulator for an electrostatic kicker with real-time control of pulse width and repetition rate over a range of four decades. The modulator must be capable of producing a voltage pulse across a capacitive load with a rise time of less than or equal to 20 ns (10% to 90%). In addition the falling edge undershoot must be controlled to less than one part in 10(3). The paper describes in detail the circuit design philosophy, layout, and critical areas in system design.