Characteristics of a High-Frequency Cockcroft-Walton Voltage Source

Abstract

Direct voltage output and ripple from a conventional cascade rectifier voltage multiplier have been observed under various conditions of operating frequency, load current, and number of doubler stages. Four types of voltage ``loss'' and two of ripple are identified, and their dependence on the above parameters is discussed. For six units operated at 32 kc the ``voltage efficiency'' varies from 90 percent without load to 80 percent when 8 ma are drawn; at 60 cps it is 42 percent without load. From the nature of the loss and ripple components it is clear that there is a maximum fruitful operating frequency for a supply of this type, only slightly above 800 cps in the present case.