Power supply for an inductive user, particularly a gradient coil

A power supply for generating brief current pulses with high edge steepness and a high final value for inductive users, which generates a high user voltage for rapid build-up of the pulse and a low user voltage for maintenance of said pulse, said power supply comprising:

• a stepping switch which presets the magnitude of said user voltage;
• a variable voltage source connected in series with said stepping switch and with said user which allows fine adjustment of the magnitude of said user voltage;
• a voltage commutator connected to said user and being connected in series with said stepping switch and said variable voltage source which provides said user voltage with an appropriate operational sign for respectively rapidly building-up said pulse or dismantling said pulse;
• and
• a switching and regulating means for driving said stepping switch, said variable voltage source and said voltage commutator dependent on the final value, the edge steepness, and the operational sign of said pulses.