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High-Voltage Pulse Generator

PVX-4150 ±1,500 V High Voltage Pulse Generator

The PVX-4150 produces fast, flat-topped high voltage pulses to 1,500 V into capacitive loads, with rise and fall times under 25 ns and pulse widths from under 60 ns out to DC. Single-shot to 240 kHz operation, a 5 MHz burst capability, and front-panel voltage and current monitors make it a high-rate driver for deflection plates, extraction grids, Pockels cells, and Q-switches.

Product Data Sheet · Preliminary · Specifications subject to verification against the published BNC datasheet
Berkeley Nucleonics DEI PVX-4150 high voltage pulse generator front panel

1Introduction

Verify voltage rating. This page transcribes the source datasheet PDF, which specifies a ±1,500 V output. A separate product listing refers to the same unit at ±15 kV. The two ratings differ by a factor of ten. Confirm the correct output rating with Berkeley Nucleonics before publishing or quoting; the values below follow the PDF.

The PVX-4150 pulse generator produces fast, high voltage waveforms to 1,500 V. Optimized for high impedance capacitive loads, it is well suited for driving extraction grids and deflection plates for electrostatic modulation of particle beams in time-of-flight mass spectrometers and accelerators. Its robust and versatile design also makes it well suited for pulsing or gating power tube grids, Pockels cells and Q-switches, acoustic transducers, microchannel plates, photomultiplier tubes, and image intensifiers. The exceptional pulse fidelity of the PVX-4150 will optimize the performance of any system in which it is used.

The PVX-4150 generates an output voltage pulse of 1,500 volts with rise and fall times less than 25 ns, with very flat voltage pulses to DC into a capacitive load. It can generate single-ended output pulses from ground to +1,500 V or from ground to −1,500 V, and can also generate pulses originating from a DC voltage offset from ground by using both VLow and VHigh power supply inputs. This offset can be from −1,500 V to +1,500 V, with a maximum power supply voltage differential of ≤1,500 V.

The PVX-4150 requires a TTL gate signal, a high voltage DC power supply, and optional DC offset supply inputs. The output pulse width and frequency are controlled by the gate signal. The pulse output voltage is controlled by the amplitude of the input DC power supplies.

DEI PVX-4150 high voltage pulse generator front panel with BNC square-wave logo, status LEDs, and monitor connectors
PVX-4150 front panel: status LEDs and Power, Enable, V Mon, I Mon, and Gate (50 Ω) connectors.

2Operation

When the input gate is high, the VHigh supply is connected to the output. When the input gate is low, the VLow supply is connected to the output. The PVX-4150 can therefore be used to generate a negative-going pulse by logically inverting the input gate, so that the input gate is high until the unit is pulsed. When the input gate goes low, the VLow input supply is connected to the output, thereby generating a negative-going pulse.

The PVX-4150 features front panel indicator LEDs to monitor the status of the pulse generator. Front panel voltage and current monitors provide a straightforward means to view the output voltage and current waveforms in real-time, eliminating the need for an external high voltage oscilloscope probe.

The pulse generator is a direct-coupled, air-cooled, solid-state half-bridge (totem pole) design, offering equally fast pulse rise and fall times, low power dissipation, and virtually no overshoot, undershoot or ringing. It has over-current detection and shut-down circuitry to protect the pulse generator from potential damage due to arcs and shorts in the load or interconnect cable. All control and protection logic circuitry, support power, energy storage, and output network are incorporated into the PVX-4150. It can be connected directly to the load, and does not require series or shunt resistors, impedance matching networks between the pulser and the load, or additional energy storage (capacitor banks). All of this is taken care of within the PVX-4150.

Power budget. The power dissipated in the PVX-4150 when driving a capacitive load is defined by the formula CV²F, where C is the total load capacitance (load, interconnect cable, and the internal capacitance of the PVX-4150), V is the pulse voltage, and F is the pulse repetition frequency. For these calculations, the internal capacitance of the PVX-4150 is 200 pF, and RG-62 cable is 13 pF/foot. Given the maximum dissipation of 150 W, the maximum load capacitance, frequency, and/or voltage at which the PVX-4150 can operate can be approximated using this formula, which also approximates the high voltage power supply requirements. This formula is not applicable when driving resistive or inductive loads.

3Specifications

All specifications measured into a 50 pF load connected with 6 feet (~1.8 m) of RG-62 (93 Ω) coaxial cable, at 1,500 V output. The PVX-4150 can drive loads of a few picofarads to several hundred picofarads of capacitance, limited by its maximum power dissipation capability. At lower load capacitances and/or voltages less than 1,500 V, the PVX-4150 can operate at continuous pulse recurrence frequencies above 240 kHz. It can also drive resistive or inductive loads, within limitations. Contact DEI for additional information and applications assistance.

Output

18 ns rise and fall times, 1,500 V output
18 ns rise & fall times, 1,500 V output (10 ns/div horizontal, 300 V/div vertical).
Typical output waveform, 1,500 V
Typical output waveform, 1,500 V (1 µs/div horizontal, 300 V/div vertical).
ParameterValue
Maximum value±1,500 volts (VHigh − VLow)
Minimum value0 volts
Means of adjustmentControlled by power supply input voltages
Pulse rise and fall time (10% to 90%)<25 ns, typically <20 ns
Pulse width<60 ns to DC, controlled by input gate
Pulse recurrence frequency (PRF)Single shot to 240 kHz at 1,500 V continuous output, maximum limited by power dissipation (1); 5 MHz burst, controlled by input gate
Max. average power150 W (VHigh + VLow), derated at 2 W/°C over 25 °C ambient (1)
Max. duty cycleContinuous
Droop<1%
Over/undershoot<5%
Throughput delay120 ns typical
Jitter<1 ns shot-to-shot
Output connector and cableSHV, with 6 feet (~1.8 m) RG-62 (93 Ω) coaxial cable

Input DC Voltage +VIN (VHigh)

ParameterValue
Absolute max. value+1,500 volts
Absolute min. value−1,500 volts
Relative max. value+1,500 volts over VLow voltage
Relative min. value+0 V over VLow voltage

Input DC Voltage −VIN (VLow)

ParameterValue
Absolute max. value+1,500 volts
Absolute min. value−1,500 volts
Input DC connectorsSHV, rear panel (one each for +VIN and −VIN)

Gate

Under 60 ns minimum pulse width, 1,500 V output
<60 ns minimum pulse width, 1,500 V output (25 ns/div horizontal, 300 V/div vertical). Pulse width is set by the input gate.
ParameterValue
Gate source and connectorTTL into 50 Ω, into BNC connector on the front panel

Voltage and Current Monitors

ParameterValue
Voltage monitor1000:1 into 1 MΩ, BNC connector
Current monitor10 A/V into 50 Ω, BNC connector

General

ParameterValue
Support power90 VAC to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Dimensions (H × W × D, excluding connectors)5.2″ × 19″ × 13″ (13.2 cm × 48.25 cm × 33 cm)
Weight (approximate)18 lbs. (8.2 kilograms)

(1) The power dissipated in the PVX-4150 when driving a capacitive load is defined by the formula CV²F (see the power budget note under Operation). This formula is not applicable when driving resistive or inductive loads.

4Front Panel & Monitoring

244 kHz frequency, 1,500 V output
244 kHz frequency, 1,500 V output (2.5 µs/div horizontal, 300 V/div vertical).

Front-panel indicator LEDs report the state of the pulse generator at a glance. Two monitor outputs sit on the front panel: the voltage monitor scales the output 1000:1 into 1 MΩ, and the current monitor reports 10 A per volt into 50 Ω. Together they let an engineer view the real-time output voltage and current waveforms on a standard oscilloscope, without a high voltage scope probe.

The over-current detection circuit shuts the output down on a fault from an arc or short, protecting both the pulser and the load. High voltage input and output connections are on the rear panel (SHV) to keep the operator side of the instrument at low voltage, while the TTL gate input is a front-panel BNC connector.

5Applications

  • Time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Electrostatic modulation of particle beams by pulsing extraction grids and deflection plates.
  • Accelerators. Modulation, deflection, and gating of charged-particle beams.
  • Electro-optics. Pulsing or gating Pockels cells and Q-switches.
  • Detector and tube gating. Gating microchannel plates, photomultiplier tubes, and image intensifiers; pulsing or gating power tube grids.
  • Transducers. Driving acoustic transducers.

6Ordering Information

ModelDescription
PVX-4150±1,500 V high voltage pulse generator; <25 ns rise/fall, <60 ns to DC pulse width, single shot to 240 kHz with 5 MHz burst, SHV output, with voltage and current monitors

The PVX-4150 requires a user-supplied high voltage DC source and a TTL gate. A second DC supply is needed only when the output is biased away from ground. Berkeley Nucleonics can advise on supply sizing from the load capacitance, pulse voltage, and repetition rate.

Request the full datasheet. This page transcribes the published PVX-4150 datasheet. For a configuration tailored to your load, contact Berkeley Nucleonics.