Article
Article
Impulse generator
Article By:
Wang, Changchang Department of Electrophysics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Cheng, T. C. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Last reviewed:2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.339400
An electrical apparatus which produces very short high-voltage or high-current surges. Such devices can be classified into two types: impulse voltage generators and impulse current generators. High impulse voltages are used to test the strength of electric power equipment against lightning and switching surges. Also, steep-front impulse voltages are sometimes used in nuclear physics experiments. High impulse currents are needed not only for tests on equipment such as lightning arresters and fuses but also for many other technical applications such as lasers, thermonuclear fusion, and plasma devices. See also: Fuse (electricity); Laser; Lightning and surge protection; Nuclear fusion; Particle accelerator; Plasma (physics)
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