Design and measurements of a fast high-voltage pulse generator for the MedAustron Low Energy Transfer line fast deflector

MedAustron, a centre for ion-therapy and research, will comprise an accelerator facility based on a synchrotron for the delivery of protons and light ions for cancer treatment. The Low Energy Beam Transfer line (LEBT) to the synchrotron contains an electrostatic fast deflector (EFE) which, when energized, deviates the continuous beam arriving from the ion source onto a Faraday Cup: the specified voltage is ±3.5 kV. De-energizing the EFE for variable pulse durations from 500 ns up to d.c. allows beam passage for multi-turn injection into the synchrotron. To maintain beam quality in the synchrotron, the EFE pulse generator requires rise and fall times of less than 300 ns between 90 % of peak voltage and a ±1 V level. To achieve this, a pulsed power supply (PKF), with high voltage MOSFET switches connected in a push-pull configuration, will be mounted in close proximity to the deflector itself. A fast, large dynamic range monitoring circuit will verify switching to the ±1 V level and subsequent flat bottom pulse quality. A prototype will be installed in the injector test stand in 2012; this paper presents the design and first measurements of the PKF and its monitoring circuit.