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Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics
The Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics (commonly abbreviated as P3E) is a research group that forms part of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Texas Tech University. Situated in Lubbock, Texas, P3E specializes in the domains of plasma, power electronics, and pulsed power research.

The Center's origins can be traced back to 1966, when it operated as a Plasma research group within Texas Tech University. In these early stages, P3E focused on a variety of research areas, which included studying harmonic ion cyclotron resonances in compact mirror apparatuses, exploring laser-induced heating in magnetized plasma, and experimenting with pellet introduction in high-density, thermally active plasmas.

History
Originally established in 1966, the Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics started as a Plasma research unit within Texas Tech University. Early studies delved into numerous areas, such as compact mirror mechanisms, magnetized plasma's laser heating, and the influence of pellet injection in thermally charged, densely concentrated plasmas.

A significant stride was made in 1977 with the development and usage of a small Tokamak, which enabled extensive studies on wave propagation within the ion cyclotron frequency range. The following years saw the Center broadening its research focus to encompass compact pulsed power, high power microwave generation, critical examinations of electric breakdown, the design and testing of wide bandgap switches, explosively driven pulsed power generators, ionospheric applications, and power electronics.

The early 1970s signaled a crucial shift for the Center, as it developed a keen interest in Pulsed Power, inspired by controlled thermonuclear fusion studies with high beta. These groundbreaking efforts at Texas Tech, coupled with other developments in the field, underscored the need for a deeper understanding of pulsed power technology's inherent physical phenomena.

From its inception, the Center's work has been interdisciplinary, involving faculty members from various academic departments. In 1998, a new research endeavor was launched at Texas Tech, focusing on explosively driven pulsed power. The main concentration was on Magnetic Flux Compression Generators and methodologies for adapting their outputs to a range of loads. Concurrently, other explosive generators, such as ferroelectric and ferromagnetic generators, were investigated. More recently, the Center has been exploring the machining boundaries of dry machined polymer-bonded high explosives (HEs).

Research and Personnel
Pulsed power research at the Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics centers around the storing, shaping, transmitting, and measurement of high voltage, high current pulses with the goal of delivering electrical energy to a load or applicator. This energy is transferred in high power short pulses, supporting a wide variety of application areas such as laser drivers, high power microwave generators, particle accelerators, nuclear fusion and weapons effects, lightning simulations, industrial manufacturing technology, and electromagnetic mass drivers. The voltages and currents involved may reach Mega-Volts and Mega-Ampere ranges, with time scales as short as the sub-nanosecond regime, necessitating rigorous material selection, shielding, and measuring techniques. One important area within this domain is high power (> 100 MW) microwave source development, which has notable military applications.

In tandem with pulsed power, power electronics is a key research area within the center. This field focuses on high efficiency power supply and capacitor charger designs, rotating machines, and specialized high average power solid state circuit designs. These applications extend to the conversion and control of electric power, including renewable energy systems, energy storage, and electric vehicles.

The Plasma, Power Electronics, and Pulsed Power Group at Texas Tech boasts a robust team, consisting of eight faculty members possessing a wide range of expertise from Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), and Physics backgrounds. In addition to the faculty, an average of 20 graduate students and 10 undergraduate student assistants contribute to the ongoing research. The center's technical and administrative staff is composed of three research engineers, one machinist, three technicians, one business manager, and one buyer.

Current Research
Currently, the Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics receives annual funding approaching $4.5 million for their Plasma, Power Electronics, and Pulsed Power Research Programs. The Center's work encompasses a wide array of topics, including but not limited to:
 * Research on shape charges
 * Development of electric space propulsion devices
 * Breakdown studies in solids and liquids
 * Exploration of industrial uses for pulsed power technology
 * Development of novel switch concepts
 * Investigation of the interaction between arc channels, electrodes, and insulators
 * Studies of high power microwaves
 * Research on the surface physics of insulators
 * Development of electrodes and insulators for electromagnetic launchers
 * Development of insulators for high-voltage applications in space
 * Research in solid state power electronics
 * Studies on erosion-resistant materials for space propulsion
 * Investigation of sub-nanosecond pulse phenomena
 * Electron beam generation studies
 * Inductive energy storage research
 * Explosive generation of pulsed power studies
 * Research on explosive magnetic flux compression generators
 * Studies on explosive ferromagnetic and piezoelectric generators
 * Research on corona formation and mitigation
 * Modelling of circuits and rotating machines
 * Liquid breakdown studies

Notable Past and Current Programs
Over the years, the Texas Tech University Pulsed Power Laboratory, part of the Center, has hosted numerous significant programs. Examples of past projects include the development of relativistic klystrons, exploration of nanosecond and sub-nanosecond breakdowns in dielectric media, and development of high current triggered vacuum spark gaps, among many others. The laboratory has also been engaged in ongoing programs, such as the development of efficient power supplies for electric propulsion thrusters and research on solid-state cryoelectronics design.

Graduate Studies
The Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics provides a vibrant environment for graduate students, offering numerous opportunities to collaborate with esteemed researchers from various industries and national laboratories. These partnerships not only enhance ongoing research but also promise inestimable long-term benefits to students' career progression.

Financial support, generally ranging from $2,300 to $2,600 monthly salary, is primarily secured through Research Assistantships and Graduate Fellowships. The Center ensures that the majority of university tuition and fees are covered in addition to the graduate salary, benefiting all supported students.

Over the past decade, the Pulsed Power and Power Electronics Research Program at Texas Tech University has yielded approximately 120 theses and dissertations, attesting to its academic vigor and impact. A rich assortment of graduate courses related to Plasma, Power Electronics, and Pulsed Power are available, including but not limited to:


 * Electromagnetic Field Theory
 * Pulsed Power Technology
 * Gaseous Electronics
 * High Power Microwave Sources
 * Power Semiconductors
 * Power Electronics
 * Plasma Engineering
 * Laser Spectroscopy
 * Machine Modeling and Control

This extensive curriculum ensures that students pursuing studies at the Center receive comprehensive exposure to critical topics in the fields of Plasma, Power Electronics, and Pulsed Power.

Research Facilities and Technical Capabilities
The Pulsed Power and Power Electronics (P3E) Center occupies an impressive space of over 15,000 square feet within the dedicated Electrical Engineering research building completed in 1980. An addition in 1999 introduced high bay laboratory space, further enhancing the Center's facilities. Additional off-campus facilities encompassing 12,000 square feet are utilized for specialized research involving energetic materials.

The P3E Center is equipped with an array of cutting-edge computer resources, including high-end MPS workstations, 3-D graphics co-processors, high-speed network connections, and workstation-class PCs. It also boasts a variety of printers, scanners, image converter cameras, mega-pixel SLR digital cameras, and redundant MS Windows domain servers.

The Center utilizes an extensive suite of software, including OrCad PSpice, Synopsys Saber, Simplore, Maxwell 3-D, Ansoft HFSS, Matlab, Autodyn 3-D, CTH 3-D hydrodynamic code, and COMSOL, among others. Access to the university’s High Performance Computing Center (HPCC) offers additional computational power and software tools.

An array of equipment and facilities are available at the Center, including:


 * Pulsed high voltage, high current diagnostic equipment
 * Optical equipment, detectors, and spectrometers
 * VUV-UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy systems
 * Pulsed and CW lasers
 * Image converter streak and framing cameras
 * Rotating prism and mirror framing cameras
 * 50 GHz Oscilloscopes
 * Various high voltage D.C. power supplies
 * A fluorescence detection system
 * Scanning electron and optical microscopes
 * Marx generators (up to 2 MV)
 * Magnetic coil systems and associated power supplies
 * Closed cycle refrigeration system
 * High power microwave equipment
 * A class 100,000 (ISO8) clean room
 * Multiple explosive chambers, among others

The Center's impressive setup equips researchers with the tools necessary for advanced studies and developments in pulsed power and power electronics.