Pulse generation circuit

A pulse generation circuit comprising:

• a DC source configured to generate a DC voltage between a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
• a conductive path extending from said positive electrode to said negative electrode;
• an inductive element provided in said conductive path;
• a parallel-connected switch-circuits unit including a plurality of switch circuits connected in parallel with one another, said parallel-connected switch-circuits unit being provided in said conductive path and configured such that each of said plurality of switch circuits opens and closes said conductive path in accordance with a drive signal inputted thereto;
• and
• a drive circuit configured to input, to each of said plurality of switch circuits, a drive signal for causing said plurality of switch circuits to successively perform an ON operation in which said conductive path is closed and then opened,
• wherein
• an ON period which is a duration from when said parallel-connected switch-circuits unit closes said conductive path to when said parallel-connected switch-circuits unit opens said conductive path is followed by a pulse voltage generation period in which a pulse voltage occurs in said inductive element,
• said drive circuit inputs the drive signal to each of said plurality of switch circuits in such a manner that an OFF-period which is a duration from when said conductive path is opened to when said conductive path is closed is longer than said pulse voltage generation period.