UK based resources and capabilities

The UK has multiple groups across academic, industry and HM Gov / MoD interested in pulsed power technology and applications

Academia

The University of Loughborough

Explores pulsed power technologies across a spread of defence and industrial applications:

  • Designs and runs multiple pulsed power systems, typically transformer based – very high voltage / short pulsed

  • Explores discharges in water for shockwave generation

  • Explore explosive driven pulsed power.

  • Utilises pulsed power for Industrial plasmas – particularly hydrogen cracking

Loughborough also runspulsed power training courses for re-skilling workers from other industries and provides MSc level lectures and projects.

Imperial College London

Uses pulsed power for high energy density plasma experiments across a number of systems including:

  • MAGPIE – 1.4MA, 2.4MV, 240ns – traditional Marx-waterline - utilised for plasma implosions (X-ray production), plasma flow experiments (lab astrophysics and

    hydrodynamics), power flow in extreme conditions (MITLs)

  • MACH – 1.5MA, 100kV, 400ns – LTD with new generation of dry bricks -  shock physics, convergent shocks and isentropic compression

  • Portable X-pinches – 100-250kA, 300ns – point source soft X-ray radiography, <ns

  • Portable pulsed power (~100kA, 500ns) for producing warm dense matter and hydrodynamics studies at synchrotrons and XFELs

We develop cutting edge diagnostics for plasma physics from Thompson scattering to X-ray spectrometry.

We produce our own trigger systems for pulsed power facilities with up to ~130kV in short pulse available, and are exploring solid state switching for spark gap replacements.

The University of Strathclyde

At Strathclyde pulsed power occupies a cross disciplinary areas bridging Physics and Electrical Engineering.

In physics pulsed power is seen as a tool for high power RF generation, in electrical engineering Strathclyde explores the fundamentals of pulsed power technology.

Capabilities include:

  • In physics there are several drivers – 200 – 500kV,  kA generators and pulse magnets and large vacuum systems. This is coupled with CST simulation experience

  • In EE we explore dielectric breakdown and spark gap switching with several driver systems

Students can work across EE and Physics, helping form links between the departments and encuraging interdisciplinary thinking.

Industry

First Light Fusion

UKs first Inertial Confinement Fusion company, founded in 2014

First Light puts the physics in the target (via amplifying pressures, reducing time scales) to simplify driver technology, enabling cost effective fusion energy systems

Initiall pursued a projectile apporach to fusion, but realising its flaws has released the FLARE scheme - a multi-liner compression scheme with fast ignition of high pressure, dense fuel attractivng significant new investment in personnel and infrastructure

Capabilities at First Light include:

  • On-site 3MA and 12MA facilities (100-200kV) – capable of flyer launch and cylindrical liner implosions to multi kms-1

  • Gas guns

  • Plasma focussed based neutron systems

  • Experience on Z facility, recording worlds highest pressures

  • Modelling with advanced 3D RMHD codes

  • Machining very high accuracies for target production

First Light is major sponsor of UK Hugh Energy Density Science - supporting multiple PhDs and postdocs, particualrly thorugh the AMPLIFI partnership co-funded with EPSRC and with partners at Imperial College London, The University of York and the University of Oxford.

ESC - the Equipment Supply Company

ESC has a multidisciplinary engineering team that works across different sectors to deliver products including pulsed power systems. It employs different technologies including IGBTs and Thyratrons, typically at very high powers but relatviely low rep rates.

Capabilities developed by ESC include:

  • HV pulse generation – e.g. 250kV single shot stacked pulser (SPG) for component stress testing made of 99 x 3kV stages in series. Also 120kV pulse transformer based systems

  • Space simulation facilities (vacuum, cooling, heat)

  • Vacuum systems design, integration and test

  • PVD – magnetron deposition and evaporation techniques

  • New coatings – PVD tool at ESC available for process development

CPI - TMD Technologies Ltd

CPI was founded in 1942 as part of EMI’s research activities with a long history of supplying critical components to radar manufacturers.

Based in West London CPI TMD is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microwave power sources, high-voltage power supplies and transmitters for radar, electronic warfare, communications, industrial testing and scientific applications.

MAGDRIVE

Magdrive develops space thrusters based on pulsed power

This unique thruster technology lies between traditional ion drives and chemical systems in capability – no heavy liquid/solid fuel, yet have very high thrust, capable of repositioning

To date they have had 2 space flights and delivered 4 thrusters, typically high rep rate (many Hz) kV, sub J

This is supported by significant UK based test faciltiies and clean room systems for development.

QinetiQ

QinetiQ delivers mission-critical capabilities across defence and security. We design, develop, test and support systems to help give our customers an operational advantage. Our expertise spans four core areas:

  • Test and Training: We provide world-class facilities, technologies and expertise to support the testing, evaluation and training of defence systems and personnel—ensuring readiness and reliability in real-world conditions.

  • Mission Support and Operations: Our teams deliver specialist support to enhance operational performance, resilience and decision-making. From strategic planning to frontline environments, we help customers achieve mission success.

  • Research and Development: We advance science and technology to shape future capabilities. Our R&D drives innovation across autonomy, sensing, cyber and beyond—enabling our customers to stay ahead of emerging threats.

  • Engineering Services: We offer deep technical expertise across the full lifecycle of capability development—from concept and design to integration, sustainment and optimisation. Our engineers solve complex challenges with precision and purpose.

QinetiQ has a vital interest in Pulsed Power as an enabler across the portfolio above, for example pulsed power test capabilities for munitions Electrostatic Discharge sensitivity testing and Novel Radar solutions for Test & Evaluation and Engineering Services. Our R&D capabilities in, for example, Directed Energy Weapons, Electrification and Energy Storage, Advanced Materials and Energetics have a requirement for applied pulsed power.

HM Gov / MOD

AWE Nuclear Securities Technologies

AWE has multiple interests in the application of pulsed power, with the use of pulsed power for radiography in laboratoires world wide being pioneered at AWE by Charlie Martin in the 1960s.

Present in interests in radiography, RF, radiation effects, and supplies for large laser systems (Orion)

It is home to muliple pulse dpower systems including:

  • Eros – nuclear radiation simulator

  • Ampere – cold X-ray effects (foil slap) simulator

  • Mini B Radiographic sources

  • ASP – neutron source

Defence Science Technologies Laboratory - DSTL

Dstl explores the art of what is possible for RF DEW. Through our studies into potential applications such as:- deliverable devices, counter UAS, counter mobility and counter infrastructure systems, we seek to understand how to harden/protect UK assets from the DEW threat.

We have many ongoing projects in our core research programme. Other projects are carried out in conjunction with colleagues in NA-M; for example a CUAS Capability Demonstrator which has the potential to develop into a prototype system.

Dstl mainly works with colleagues from industry and academia through the Weapons Sector Research Framework (WSRF). We work with other nations under a series of bilateral and multilateral arrangements.