Big Science & Advanced Development

Custom Pulsed Power
for Demanding Applications

From particle accelerators at CERN to thin film deposition systems and high-voltage breakdown characterisation — EPS develops high-performance pulse power solutions where standard equipment does not exist.

The most demanding pulsed power applications do not have standard solutions, but can it be built with off-the-shelf components. Particle accelerator infrastructure, advanced materials research and specialised high-voltage studies require generators engineered from the ground up — with waveforms, voltage levels, repetition rates and mechanical formats that no catalogue product can deliver.

EPS was built around this kind of development work. Our founder, Prof. Luís Redondo, has spent over three decades developing pulsed power technology at the frontier of what solid-state switching makes possible. The same engineering capability that produced the EPULSUS standard range is available for custom development contracts.

We work as a technical partner throughout the development cycle — from initial specification and feasibility assessment through prototype, testing and series production. All development is conducted in-house at our Lisbon facility, under ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 quality management.

Reference Customers

CERN — European Organisation for Nuclear Research
HZB — Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (BESSY II)
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
Old Dominion University
University of Ljubljana
Defence & security research programmes
Development Areas

What we design and build

Magnetron Sputtering Power Supplies

Thin Film Deposition · PVD Systems

Magnetron sputtering is the dominant technique for Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) of thin films — used in semiconductor fabrication, optical coatings, solar cells, hard coatings and functional surface engineering. A high-energy argon ion plasma bombards a solid target material; ejected atoms travel to the substrate and deposit in layers of atomic thickness.

The performance of the deposition process — film uniformity, density, stress and composition — depends critically on the electrical characteristics of the power supply driving the magnetron. EPS develops custom pulsed DC and RF magnetron power supplies for research and industrial sputtering systems, including reactive sputtering configurations.

  • Pulsed DC supplies to suppress arcing and charge buildup
  • Bipolar pulsing for reactive and insulating target materials
  • High repetition rate with precise pulse-to-pulse reproducibility
  • Custom voltage, power and duty cycle to match target geometry
  • Integration with existing sputtering system controllers

Thyratron Replacements

Solid-State Modulators · Kicker Magnets · Accelerators

Thyratron tubes have been the classical high-voltage switch in pulse modulators for decades — used in radar, particle accelerators and industrial pulsed power. They are increasingly difficult to source, expensive to maintain and have a limited operational lifetime determined by gas depletion and cathode wear.

EPS designs solid-state replacement modulators based on SiC MOSFET technology that are functionally equivalent to thyratron-based systems — delivering the same pulse characteristics with dramatically improved reliability, zero gas maintenance and longer operational life.

  • Kicker magnet modulators for beam deflection in synchrotrons and linacs
  • Fast rise time (<100 ns) with high peak current capability
  • Drop-in replacement form factor where possible
  • Long pulse and burst mode operation
  • Full solid-state — no consumables, no warm-up time

Breakdown Studies Equipment

Dielectric Characterisation · HV Research

Understanding the electrical breakdown behaviour of materials — in vacuum, in gases, in liquids or in solid dielectrics — is fundamental to the design of high-voltage components, cables, insulation systems and pulsed power switches. Characterisation requires generators with precise, reproducible waveforms applied under controlled conditions.

EPS develops custom pulse generators for breakdown research: configurable pulse shape, controlled rise time, variable repetition rate and triggering synchronised to diagnostic equipment. Systems are designed for integration with vacuum chambers, pressurised test cells and cryogenic environments.

  • Variable voltage, pulse width and polarity
  • Synchronisation outputs for oscilloscope and camera triggering
  • Vacuum-compatible cabling and feedthrough options
  • High repetition rate for statistical breakdown studies
  • Custom load impedance matching

Custom R&D — Pulse Power Systems

Any Application · Any Specification

Beyond the three areas above, EPS has developed and continues to develop custom pulsed power systems for a wide range of applications — including defence and security programmes, plasma generation, electromagnetic compatibility testing and emerging research fields.

If your application requires a high-voltage pulse generator that does not exist as a standard product, we want to hear about it. EPS operates as a technical development partner, not simply a contract manufacturer — we engage at the specification stage and contribute engineering expertise throughout the project.

  • From feasibility study to certified production unit
  • NDA available from first contact
  • Development under ISO 9001 quality management
  • Medical device development under ISO 13485
  • Type testing and certification support
How We Work

Development as a core competency,
not a side service

Custom development is not a peripheral activity at EPS. It is the foundation from which our standard product range grew. Every EPULSUS standard model began as a custom development project, refined through real-world application and progressively engineered into a repeatable, certified product.

This means our engineers are not adapting a standard design to fit a new requirement. They are doing what they do every day: specifying, designing, simulating, building and testing custom high-voltage pulse power equipment. The expertise is genuine and current.

We maintain an active publication record in international peer-reviewed journals and IEEE conferences — which means our development work is not just commercially driven, but continuously validated against the state of the art in pulsed power research.

A typical development engagement

01
Technical discussion & NDA

We assess feasibility, identify constraints and agree on confidentiality terms before any commitment.

02
Specification & quotation

Detailed technical specification agreed with the customer. Fixed-price or milestone-based contract.

03
Design & prototype

In-house design, simulation and build. Customer review at key milestones.

04
Testing & validation

Performance testing against agreed specification. Type testing and certification support where required.

05
Delivery & support

Installation support, documentation and ongoing technical support. Series production if required.

Reference Projects

Selected delivered projects

Accelerator · CH

CERN

Multiple custom development projects — ongoing relationship

EPS is a long-standing supplier to CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. Current production includes 20 custom-designed magnetron power supplies engineered exclusively to CERN specifications, alongside a portfolio of bespoke pulse generators for diverse accelerator infrastructure applications.

Synchrotron · DE

HZB Berlin

Pulse generators for the BESSY II synchrotron

EPS supplies custom pulsed power systems to the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, home to the BESSY II synchrotron radiation source — a 1.7 GeV electron storage ring. Our generators support beamline instrumentation and accelerator operations at one of Germany's flagship research facilities.

Medical · USA

Custom Medical Device

Certified PFE generator for clinical use

A US medical device company brought their pulsed field electroporation research to EPS after initial studies with a standard EPULSUS unit. EPS engineered a dedicated miniaturised generator to the partner's clinical specification, type-tested at an accredited laboratory and certified to international electrical safety standards for market entry in the United States.

Want to go deeper into the technology?

Solid-state Marx topology, SiC MOSFET switching, bipolar multilevel generation and the published research behind our development work.

Explore the Technology →
Start a Custom Project

Ready to discuss
your requirement?

Whether you need a dedicated waveform for a new biomedical application, a solid-state replacement for an ageing thyratron modulator, a sputtering power supply for a novel target material, or something that does not fit any existing category, start with a conversation.

NDA available from first contact. No commitment required to discuss feasibility. We engage at specification stage, not just at manufacturing.

Discuss Your Project → Request a Quotation
CH
CERN
20 custom magnetron power supplies. Long-term supplier relationship for accelerator infrastructure across multiple projects.
DE
HZB Berlin — BESSY II
Custom pulse generators for the BESSY II 1.7 GeV synchrotron radiation source.
US
Medical Device — ENT Surgery
Miniaturised PFE generator developed from EPULSUS research prototype to certified clinical device. Type-tested at accredited EU laboratory. Cleared for US market.
Development under ISO 9001 & ISO 13485. Type testing and certification support available. NDA from first contact.