Cockcroft-Walton generator

A Cockcroft-Walton generator is a type of electrical circuit that converts low-voltage alternating current (AC) into very high-voltage direct current (DC). It uses a series of capacitors and diodes arranged in stages, where each stage adds to the overall voltage. As AC moves through the device, the capacitors are charged during one half-cycle and stacked to increase the voltage during the other half-cycle. This design allows the generator to produce high voltages with relatively simple components, making it useful in applications like particle accelerators, X-ray machines, and scientific experiments where high voltage is needed.