A Square-Wave-Fed Bipolar Hybrid Cockcroft–Walton Voltage Multiplier for Aerospace Ionic Propulsion Power Supplies

This paper investigates a square-wave-fed bipolar hybrid Cockcroft–Walton voltage multiplier (BHY-VM) intended for high-voltage power supplies in ionic propulsion applications. The proposed topology combines the advantages of both bipolar and hybrid architectures. The electrical behavior of the BHY VM is analytically characterized, including diode voltage drops, and compared with conventional VM configurations in terms of component count and ratings, Th´evenin-equivalent parameters, and power losses. The square-wave excitation eliminates the need for a resonant magnetic interface while substantially modifying the charge-transfer mechanism. Experimental measurements validate the analytical model and confirm the predicted steady-state behavior of the proposed architecture over a wide operating range. Application oriented considerations relevant to ionic propulsion power supplies are also discussed. In particular, the reduced output impedance and bipolar structure of the proposed BHY-VM support improved voltage regulation and reduced insulation requirements. Moreover, integration aspects, including gain distribution between transformer and VM stages, and high-voltage implementation constraints, are finally outlined for representative lightweight aerospace applications.