Editing Marx generator (section)

==Principle of operation==
[[File:Marx Generator.svg|thumb|259x259px|Marx generator diagrams; Although the left capacitor has the greatest charge rate, the generator is typically allowed to charge for a long period of time, and all capacitors eventually reach the same charge voltage.]]The circuit generates a high-voltage pulse by charging a number of [[capacitor]]s in parallel, then suddenly connecting them in series. See the circuit diagram on the right. At first, ''n'' capacitors (''C'') are charged in parallel to a voltage ''V<sub>C</sub>'' by a DC power supply through the resistors (''R''<sub>C</sub>). The [[spark gap]]s used as switches have the voltage ''V<sub>C</sub>'' across them, but the gaps have a breakdown voltage greater than ''V<sub>C</sub>'', so they all behave as open circuits while the capacitors charge. The last gap isolates the output of the generator from the load; without that gap, the load would prevent the capacitors from charging. To create the output pulse, the first spark gap is caused to break down (triggered); the breakdown effectively shorts the gap, placing the first two capacitors in series, applying a voltage of about 2''V<sub>C</sub>'' across the second spark gap.<ref>Typical explanation; see, for example, http://www.kronjaeger.com/hv/hv/src/marx/index.html; the issue is more complicated.<!-- body cap --> Another site uses charging inductors instead of resistors: http://hibp.ecse.rpi.edu/~leij/febetron/marx.html.</ref> Consequently, the second gap breaks down to add the third capacitor to the "stack", and the process continues to sequentially break down all of the gaps. This process of the spark gaps connecting the capacitors in series to create the high voltage is called ''erection''. The last gap connects the output of the series "stack" of capacitors to the load. Ideally, the output voltage will be ''nV<sub>C</sub>'', the number of capacitors times the charging voltage, but in practice the value is less. Note that none of the charging resistors ''R''<sub>c</sub> are subjected to more than the charging voltage even when the capacitors have been erected. The charge available is limited to the charge on the capacitors, so the output is a brief pulse as the capacitors discharge through the load. At some point, the spark gaps stop conducting, and the low-voltage supply begins charging the capacitors again.

The principle of multiplying voltage by charging capacitors in parallel and discharging them in series is also used in the [[voltage multiplier]] circuit, used to produce high voltages for [[laser printer]]s and [[cathode-ray tube]] [[television set]]s, which has similarities to this circuit. One difference is that the voltage multiplier is powered with alternating current and produces a steady DC output voltage, whereas the Marx generator produces a pulse.

{{multiple image
| align = center
| direction = horizontal
| header   =
| image1   = High-Voltage Impulse Test System.jpg
| caption1 = Marx generator used for testing high-voltage power-transmission components at TU Dresden, Germany
| width1   = 157
| image2   = Marx generator Leipzig trade fair 1954.png
| caption2 = Marx generator at a utility trade fair, Leipzig, East Germany, 1954
| width2   = 147
| image3   = Zap!.jpg
| caption3 = 600 kV  10-stage Marx generator in operation
| width3   = 216
| image4   = 800 kV Marx Generator.jpg
| caption4 = 800 kV Marx generator in laboratory at the National Institute of Technology, Durgapur India.
| width4   = 150
| footer   =
}}