Fast Marx Generator Development for PRS Drivers

• Main Authors: Smith, I, Carboni, V, Miller, A R, Crumley, R, Corcoran, P, Spence, P W, Rix, W H, Powell, W, Sincerny, P S, Ennis, J, Bell, D
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: CAPACITORS; Electrical and Electronic Equipment; FMG(FAST MARX GENERATOR); LOW INDUCTANCE MARX TECHNOLOGY; Particle Accelerators; PULSE GENERATORS; PULSE POWER SYSTEMS; Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods; X RAYS; Z PINCH PLASMAS

Design studies for a full threat simulator to drive PRS implosions to around 50 MA in 250 ns showed the importance of Fast Marx Generators (FMGs) with intrinsic discharge times (LC)[exp 1/2] significantly less than the present state-of-the-art in large machines (e.g. 500 ns in the SNL Z). Energy, size, complexity, and therefore cost are significantly reduced, and the need for intermediate stages of power gain are eliminated as FMG discharge time approaches an optimum (around 125 ns for 250 ns implosions). We describe designs for 175 ns and 300 ns FMGs and specific components that are being developed for use in large systems. This FMG technology development builds in part on that of systems built by the USA DoD in the 1970's and 1980's, which are also summarized. This technology can be applied to either of the fast Marxes and to the LTD described in Ref. 1 and to upgrades of existing systems such as the Z refurbishment. Presented at 2001 IEEE Pulsed Power Plasma Science Conference, PPPS-2001, comprised of the IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference (13th) and IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (28th), in Las Vegas, NV on 17-22 Jun 2001 and published in Digest of Technical Papers PPPS-2001, v1 p582-586; 0-7803-7120-8/02. Prepared in collaboration with Sorrento Electronics and Defense Threat Reduction Agency. See also ADM002371, 2013 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, Digest of Technical Papers 1976-2013, and Abstracts of the 2013 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science.