Measurement Standards for Low and Medium Peak Pulse Voltages

Two systems for the measurement and standardization of peak pulse voltage have recently been developed in the Radio Standards Engineering Division of the National Bureau of Standards. Des igned for use with pulses having durations as short as 10 nanoseconds, the s ystems represent the initi al e ffort by NBS for establishment of standards in this fi eld and it is expected that they will serve as the basis for a calibration service. One of the systems is a refined, slideback voltmeter employing a solid state diode. The ri se time is less than 10 nanoseconds and the instrument is useful for meas urements in the range 5V to 100V as presently constructed. The second system standardizes the output peak voltage level of pulse generators by means of cascaded zener diodes . The clipping level of the diodes is determined first by doc voltage measurements and the sys tem is subsequently used to generate pulses of known peak amplitudes. The rise time of the diodes is approximately 30 nanoseconds. The accuracy of both sys tems is within 0.25. percent, and co mparison measurements have been made between the two , and with other NBS a-c and rf (CW) voltage standards.