THE PULSE OF THE FUTURE

DIRECTE D

ENERG Y

INCORPORATED

PVM - 4210 DUAL OUTPUT HIGH

VOLTAGE PULSE GENERATOR MODUL E

• Simultaneous Positive And Negative

0 To +950V and 0 To –950V Pulse

Outputs

• 1,900V Differential Output

• <15ns Rise And Fall Times

• <40ns to DC Pulse Width

• >20KHz Pulse Repetition Frequency

• Internal High Voltage Power Supplies

• Optimized To Drive Deflection Plates,

Pockels Cells, Q-Switches And Other

Capacitive Loads

• Economical, Modular Solid State

Design

The PVM-4210 is a compact, OEM-style pulse generator module

providing two simultaneous differential voltage pulses of up to

±950V (1,900V differential), with pulse rise and fall times <15

nanoseconds, and pulse widths continuously adjustable from

<40 nanoseconds to DC. The pulser operates on +24VDC to

+28VDC support power, and features integrated DC high voltage

power supplies.

The PVM-4210 is optimized for differential drive of deflection

plates for electrostatic modulation of particle beams in time-of-

flight mass spectrometers and accelerators. It will also drive any

high impedance, capacitive load such as Pockels Cells and Q-

Switches, electrodes, microchannel plates, acoustic transducers,

image intensifiers and photomultiplier tubes. The exceptional

pulse fidelity of the PVM-4210 will optimize the performance of

any system in which it is used.

The module provides two pulse output channels, controlled by a

common control logic. When the control logic receives a gate

signal, both channels pulse simultaneously. One channel pulses

from ground to the positive high voltage, and the other channel

pulses from ground to the negative high voltage. Therefore each

output can be connected to the electrodes of a Pockels Cell or

Q-Switch, or to a pair of deflecti on plates, providing a 1,900V

differential pulse across the cell or plates. These outputs may

also be inverted, to pulse from the high voltage potential to

ground. The width and frequency of the output pulses follow the

width and frequency of the TTL input gate. The amplitude of the

output pulse voltage for each channel is independently adjust-

able from 0 to 950V using screwdriver-adjustable potentiometers

readily accessible on the end panel of the pulser module.

The PVM-4210 requires +24VDC to +28VDC support power and

a TTL gate signal. For safety and control flexibility, a TTL level

signal is used to enable and disable the DC power supplies.

Each channel is a half-bridge (totem pole) design, offering equally

fast pulse rise and fall times, low power dissipation, and virtually

no over-shoot, under-shoot or ringing. The unit has over-current

detection and shut-down circuitry to protect the pulse generator

against potential damage due to arcs and shorts in the load or

interconnect cables.

Unlike some competing solid state switches, the PVM-4210 is a com-

plete pulser solution with high voltage power supplies, energy storage

and output network, ready for use. 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 en-

ergy storage (capacitor banks). All of this is taken care of within the

PVM-4210. The pulser is housed in an aluminum enclosure, with

threaded mounting holes in the base to simplify installation and assem-

bly in OEM applications.

The PVM-4210 is a direct-coupled, all solid-state design using air

as the primary insulating medium. Its conservative design margin

gives you long component life. And keeping the PVM-4210 free of

potting compound or encapsulation materials makes it easy to

service if a component ever does require replacement. Some

competing products are potted, and must be replaced if they fail.

But compactness and durability are not all you get in the PVM-

4210. Inherent in the design is exceptional pulse fidelity with virtu-

ally no ringing, over-shoot or under-shoot, and protection against

arcs, shorts and load transients in a reliable, economical module.