Ultra-compact Piezoelectric Transformer Charged Particle Acceleration

The high voltage capability, compact size, and high output impedance of piezoelectric transformers makes them very attractive primary high voltage supplies for charged particle beam applications. This paper will present and contrast recent results utilizing piezoelectric transformers to accelerate electrons and ions, to produce x-rays and neutrons for imaging and active interrogation and to produce low energy ion beams for electric micropropulsion of spacecraft. In both cases, the piezoelectric transformer acts as the primary power supply for beam acceleration, and in the micro-propulsion thruster the transformer additionally produces dense surface plasma for ion extraction.