An apparatus and method for generating slow rise-time,
high voltage electrical pulses to a load, preferably using an existing
transformer /
rectifier set or power supply to charge an inversion or
high voltage switching circuit to produce the pulsed
voltage. An
energy recovery circuit (100, 102) is used to return unused energy from the load (24) back to the means for producing pulsed
voltage (110, 130). A load matching circuit (120) uses a blocking
diode and a
capacitor for charging the load. An additional blocking
diode (32) inhibits load
voltage discharge back through the slow pulse generating circuit. A
transformer (20) can be used to step-up voltage from the inversion circuit, or
high voltage switching circuit, to the load. One or more
magnetic switch stages are used to transfer energy from the inversion circuit, or high voltage switching circuit, to the load matching circuit. A fire-on
voltage controller (66) triggers the inversion or high voltage switching circuit.