The US Air Force has an increasing need for better (smaller, more efficient, more powerful) pulsed power converters. These systems deliver high power for very short duration to enable directed energy capabilities such as laser excitation, high energy radar, high-power microwave radiation, electronics disruption, and electromagnetic launch. Commercial applications of pulsed power include particle accelerators, X-ray imaging, air filtering, plasma generation, and sterilization of potable liquids. In addition to short, high-power pulses of energy, these applications require repetitive operation, often at thousands or even over hundred-thousands of pulses each second. These high-power and high-frequency requirements pose a significant challenge to system miniaturization and design.

Conventional pulsed power systems have moved to solid-state conversion with power semiconductor switching devices to improve converter lifetime and increase pulsed repetition rates. Converters use controlled switching devices to charge energy storage capacitors at low voltage and discharge at high voltages, producing high-energy pulses. The power output of these systems is primarily limited by the energy stored in the capacitors, and the power losses in the switching devices which leads to overheating. Capacitors, charging inductors, and thermal management often dominate the system volume. In this project, we propose to use recent advancements in methods and design for switched-capacitor converters to reduce pulsed power losses and thus increase conversion efficiency, repetition rates, and overall power density. We will leverage advances in high performance wide bandgap GaN power transistors with integrated gate drives to reduce complexity and increase reliability while achieving high efficiency power conversion in an ultra-compact footprint. The final demonstration will leverage our expertise in hybrid switched-capacitor and multilevel designs with advanced control methods to produce a compact, efficient, and scalable power converter to meet Air Force and Department of Defense needs.