rectangle, e.g.

signifies that the incidentfwith spectrum 40-70 GHz has

a peak that decays in the Lorentz model cL at an exponential rate that
varies from 709-868/m. The dashed curve shows this is within the
range [T,
of 508-1247/m for EL. This example and the seven
others in Fig. 3 verify the 5 e x p ( - r x ) prediction for peaks. The
spectrum for the small, marked rectangle is 4-6 GHz. Linearity and
Fig. 3 thereby yield two four-parameter families of examples of peaks
that decay faster than exp(-r.r), with bandwidths over three and four
octaves.

r]

-1.0
I
-1 .o

"

I I 1
-0.5

1 1 1 1

I
0.5

I
1.o

time, ns

Fig. 1 Near-peak values of an incident f(t) with parameters %in/2z =

13.48 GHz and w,,/271=
18.01 GHz
100,

I\.

predicted

Conclusions: In this Letter a practical model of pulses in far-field,

lossy materials is used to show that exponential decay is typical. This
is verified by many numerical examples, with bandwidths up to four
octaves. Two other numerical observations have not yet been
explained by analysis. First, analysis has not explained why
e x p ( - 2 y x ) is a bound in Fig. 2. Secondly, the local exponential
decay rates of energies and peaks are within bounds suggested, but not
yet predicted, by analysis. The analytical results in this Letter,
however, are all numerically verified.
A consequence of recent, practical interest is that algebraic decay no
longer seems to be a useful design principle for radar penetration of farfield, lossy clutter. Although algebraic decay might be recovered from
exponential decay in a mathematical limit w,in + 0, this would not
escape the real difficulties of low radiation efficiency and low resolution
posed by near-DC signals.
Acknowledgments: The US Air Force Office of Scientific Research
supported this work. H. Steyskal contributed many useful conversations.

'. '.
'. '.

0IEE 2002
Electronics Letters Online No: 20020482
DOI: 10.1049/el:20020482

".'.

T.M. Roberts (Antenna Technology Branch, Air Force Research

LaboratorylSNHA, 80 Scott Drive, Hanscom AFB, MA 01 731, USA)

&
0

0.005

0.01 0

0.015

depth, m
Pig. 2 Normalised energies and peak powers of a pulse in tD and another
in cL overlap (centre), are 5 e x p ( - 2 r x ) (top), and are ? e x p ( - 2 r x )
(bottom)

E-mail: robertst@maxwell.rl.plh.af.mil

References
1 BRILLOUIN, L.: 'Wave propagation and group velocity' (Academic Press,

1960)
and SHERMAN, G.c.: 'Electromagnetic pulse propagation
in causal dielectrics' (Springer-Verlag, 1994)
3 KELBERT, M., and SAZONOV, 1.: 'Pukes and other wave processes in fluids'
(Kluwer Academic, 1996)
4 ROBERTS, T.M., and PETROPOULOS, P.G.: 'Asymptotics and energy
estimates for electromagnetic pulses in dispersive media', 1 Opt Soc.
Am. A, 1996, 13, (6), pp. 12041217
2

*1500
OOL

E
.

,+'

Debye

28 February 2002

OUGHSTUN, K.E.,

Lorentz

,*'

High voltage pulse generation

M. Petkovsek, J. Nastran, I). Voncina, P. Zajec, D. Miklavcic

and G. Sersa
1

40
1

'

60
"
'

'

'

80
1

'

100

frequency, GHz
Fig. 3 Curves k,(o) for models cD and cL, with exponential decay ofpeaks
verijied by eight examples described in text regarding rectangles

Going beyond the analysis, a more sensitive measure of exponential

decay is -&I/ = - d[ln &(x)]/dx. This is - 1 times the x-dependent
slope (in dB/cm) of &(x) when graphed in dB. Thus, -&I/ is the local
exponential decay rate of &. For the pulses of Figs. 1 and 2, the
computed -&I/&
varies from 1185-1257/m (51-55 dB/cm) for the
first 60 dB of energy attenuation. This is in the range [ 2 y , 2 y ] of
101&1485/m ( 4 4 6 4 dB/cm) suggested but not yet predicted by
theory.
Fig. 3 shows ranges of local exponential decay rates -P//P of peaks
P for the first 60dB of peak-power attenuation. The large, marked

680

A new topology of a high voltage source with a variable output pulse

pattern and featuring an independent adjustment of the magnitude,

repetition frequency and pulse duration is presented. The power stage
of the source consists of eight individual unipolar sources that can be
arbitrarily connected in series to obtain the desired output voltage
pulse of several amps and with extremely high duldt.
Introduction: Owing to the tremendous increase of applications in
oncology, genetics and cell biology, high voltage pulse sources
capable of delivering AC or DC currents of several amps are the
subject of intensive investigations. Several authors have reported that
the application of short high voltage pulses transiently increases the
permeability of the cell membrane [ 1-31, The so-called electroporation, or electropermeabilisation, has become an effective tool for the
internalisation of various molecules, especially anti-cancer drugs and
gene material, into the biological cells. The efficiency of such

ELECTRONICS LETERS

4th July2002

Vol. 38 No. 74

rectangle, e.g. signifies that the incidentfwith spectrum 40-70 GHz has
a peak that decays in the Lorentz model cL at an exponential rate that
varies from 709-868/m. The dashed curve shows this is within the
range [T,
of 508-1247/m for EL. This example and the seven
others in Fig. 3 verify the 5 e x p ( - r x ) prediction for peaks. The
spectrum for the small, marked rectangle is 4-6 GHz. Linearity and
Fig. 3 thereby yield two four-parameter families of examples of peaks
that decay faster than exp(-r.r), with bandwidths over three and four
octaves.

r]

-1.0
I
-1 .o

"

I I 1
-0.5

1 1 1 1

I
0.5

I
1.o

time, ns

Fig. 1 Near-peak values of an incident f(t) with parameters %in/2z =

13.48 GHz and w,,/271=
18.01 GHz
100,

I\.

predicted

Conclusions: In this Letter a practical model of pulses in far-field,

lossy materials is used to show that exponential decay is typical. This
is verified by many numerical examples, with bandwidths up to four
octaves. Two other numerical observations have not yet been
explained by analysis. First, analysis has not explained why
e x p ( - 2 y x ) is a bound in Fig. 2. Secondly, the local exponential
decay rates of energies and peaks are within bounds suggested, but not
yet predicted, by analysis. The analytical results in this Letter,
however, are all numerically verified.
A consequence of recent, practical interest is that algebraic decay no
longer seems to be a useful design principle for radar penetration of farfield, lossy clutter. Although algebraic decay might be recovered from
exponential decay in a mathematical limit w,in + 0, this would not
escape the real difficulties of low radiation efficiency and low resolution
posed by near-DC signals.
Acknowledgments: The US Air Force Office of Scientific Research
supported this work. H. Steyskal contributed many useful conversations.

'. '.
'. '.

0IEE 2002
Electronics Letters Online No: 20020482
DOI: 10.1049/el:20020482

".'.

T.M. Roberts (Antenna Technology Branch, Air Force Research

LaboratorylSNHA, 80 Scott Drive, Hanscom AFB, MA 01 731, USA)

&
0

0.005

0.01 0

0.015

depth, m
Pig. 2 Normalised energies and peak powers of a pulse in tD and another
in cL overlap (centre), are 5 e x p ( - 2 r x ) (top), and are ? e x p ( - 2 r x )
(bottom)

E-mail: robertst@maxwell.rl.plh.af.mil

References
1 BRILLOUIN, L.: 'Wave propagation and group velocity' (Academic Press,

1960)
and SHERMAN, G.c.: 'Electromagnetic pulse propagation
in causal dielectrics' (Springer-Verlag, 1994)
3 KELBERT, M., and SAZONOV, 1.: 'Pukes and other wave processes in fluids'
(Kluwer Academic, 1996)
4 ROBERTS, T.M., and PETROPOULOS, P.G.: 'Asymptotics and energy
estimates for electromagnetic pulses in dispersive media', 1 Opt Soc.
Am. A, 1996, 13, (6), pp. 12041217
2

*1500
OOL

E
.

,+'

Debye

28 February 2002

OUGHSTUN, K.E.,

Lorentz

,*'

High voltage pulse generation

M. Petkovsek, J. Nastran, I). Voncina, P. Zajec, D. Miklavcic

and G. Sersa
1

40
1

'

60
"
'

'

'

80
1

'

100

frequency, GHz
Fig. 3 Curves k,(o) for models cD and cL, with exponential decay ofpeaks
verijied by eight examples described in text regarding rectangles

Going beyond the analysis, a more sensitive measure of exponential

decay is -&I/ = - d[ln &(x)]/dx. This is - 1 times the x-dependent
slope (in dB/cm) of &(x) when graphed in dB. Thus, -&I/ is the local
exponential decay rate of &. For the pulses of Figs. 1 and 2, the
computed -&I/&
varies from 1185-1257/m (51-55 dB/cm) for the
first 60 dB of energy attenuation. This is in the range [ 2 y , 2 y ] of
101&1485/m ( 4 4 6 4 dB/cm) suggested but not yet predicted by
theory.
Fig. 3 shows ranges of local exponential decay rates -P//P of peaks
P for the first 60dB of peak-power attenuation. The large, marked

680

A new topology of a high voltage source with a variable output pulse

pattern and featuring an independent adjustment of the magnitude,

repetition frequency and pulse duration is presented. The power stage
of the source consists of eight individual unipolar sources that can be
arbitrarily connected in series to obtain the desired output voltage
pulse of several amps and with extremely high duldt.
Introduction: Owing to the tremendous increase of applications in
oncology, genetics and cell biology, high voltage pulse sources
capable of delivering AC or DC currents of several amps are the
subject of intensive investigations. Several authors have reported that
the application of short high voltage pulses transiently increases the
permeability of the cell membrane [ 1-31, The so-called electroporation, or electropermeabilisation, has become an effective tool for the
internalisation of various molecules, especially anti-cancer drugs and
gene material, into the biological cells. The efficiency of such

ELECTRONICS LETERS

4th July2002

Vol. 38 No. 74

rectangle, e.g. signifies that the incidentfwith spectrum 40-70 GHz has
a peak that decays in the Lorentz model cL at an exponential rate that
varies from 709-868/m. The dashed curve shows this is within the
range [T,
of 508-1247/m for EL. This example and the seven
others in Fig. 3 verify the 5 e x p ( - r x ) prediction for peaks. The
spectrum for the small, marked rectangle is 4-6 GHz. Linearity and
Fig. 3 thereby yield two four-parameter families of examples of peaks
that decay faster than exp(-r.r), with bandwidths over three and four
octaves.

r]

-1.0
I
-1 .o

"

I I 1
-0.5

1 1 1 1

I
0.5

I
1.o

time, ns

Fig. 1 Near-peak values of an incident f(t) with parameters %in/2z =

13.48 GHz and w,,/271=
18.01 GHz
100,

I\.

predicted

Conclusions: In this Letter a practical model of pulses in far-field,

lossy materials is used to show that exponential decay is typical. This
is verified by many numerical examples, with bandwidths up to four
octaves. Two other numerical observations have not yet been
explained by analysis. First, analysis has not explained why
e x p ( - 2 y x ) is a bound in Fig. 2. Secondly, the local exponential
decay rates of energies and peaks are within bounds suggested, but not
yet predicted, by analysis. The analytical results in this Letter,
however, are all numerically verified.
A consequence of recent, practical interest is that algebraic decay no
longer seems to be a useful design principle for radar penetration of farfield, lossy clutter. Although algebraic decay might be recovered from
exponential decay in a mathematical limit w,in + 0, this would not
escape the real difficulties of low radiation efficiency and low resolution
posed by near-DC signals.
Acknowledgments: The US Air Force Office of Scientific Research
supported this work. H. Steyskal contributed many useful conversations.

'. '.
'. '.

0IEE 2002
Electronics Letters Online No: 20020482
DOI: 10.1049/el:20020482

".'.

T.M. Roberts (Antenna Technology Branch, Air Force Research

LaboratorylSNHA, 80 Scott Drive, Hanscom AFB, MA 01 731, USA)

&
0

0.005

0.01 0

0.015

depth, m
Pig. 2 Normalised energies and peak powers of a pulse in tD and another
in cL overlap (centre), are 5 e x p ( - 2 r x ) (top), and are ? e x p ( - 2 r x )
(bottom)

E-mail: robertst@maxwell.rl.plh.af.mil

References
1 BRILLOUIN, L.: 'Wave propagation and group velocity' (Academic Press,

1960)
and SHERMAN, G.c.: 'Electromagnetic pulse propagation
in causal dielectrics' (Springer-Verlag, 1994)
3 KELBERT, M., and SAZONOV, 1.: 'Pukes and other wave processes in fluids'
(Kluwer Academic, 1996)
4 ROBERTS, T.M., and PETROPOULOS, P.G.: 'Asymptotics and energy
estimates for electromagnetic pulses in dispersive media', 1 Opt Soc.
Am. A, 1996, 13, (6), pp. 12041217
2

*1500
OOL

E
.

,+'

Debye

28 February 2002

OUGHSTUN, K.E.,

Lorentz

,*'

High voltage pulse generation

M. Petkovsek, J. Nastran, I). Voncina, P. Zajec, D. Miklavcic

and G. Sersa
1

40
1

'

60
"
'

'

'

80
1

'

100

frequency, GHz
Fig. 3 Curves k,(o) for models cD and cL, with exponential decay ofpeaks
verijied by eight examples described in text regarding rectangles

Going beyond the analysis, a more sensitive measure of exponential

decay is -&I/ = - d[ln &(x)]/dx. This is - 1 times the x-dependent
slope (in dB/cm) of &(x) when graphed in dB. Thus, -&I/ is the local
exponential decay rate of &. For the pulses of Figs. 1 and 2, the
computed -&I/&
varies from 1185-1257/m (51-55 dB/cm) for the
first 60 dB of energy attenuation. This is in the range [ 2 y , 2 y ] of
101&1485/m ( 4 4 6 4 dB/cm) suggested but not yet predicted by
theory.
Fig. 3 shows ranges of local exponential decay rates -P//P of peaks
P for the first 60dB of peak-power attenuation. The large, marked

680

A new topology of a high voltage source with a variable output pulse

pattern and featuring an independent adjustment of the magnitude,

repetition frequency and pulse duration is presented. The power stage
of the source consists of eight individual unipolar sources that can be
arbitrarily connected in series to obtain the desired output voltage
pulse of several amps and with extremely high duldt.
Introduction: Owing to the tremendous increase of applications in
oncology, genetics and cell biology, high voltage pulse sources
capable of delivering AC or DC currents of several amps are the
subject of intensive investigations. Several authors have reported that
the application of short high voltage pulses transiently increases the
permeability of the cell membrane [ 1-31, The so-called electroporation, or electropermeabilisation, has become an effective tool for the
internalisation of various molecules, especially anti-cancer drugs and
gene material, into the biological cells. The efficiency of such

ELECTRONICS LETERS

4th July2002

Vol. 38 No. 74