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The Atlas pulsed power facility for high energy density physics experiments

The Atlas facility, now under construction at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), will provide a unique capability for performing high-energy-density experiments in support of weapon-physics and basic-research programs. Here, the authors describe how the primary element of Atlas is a 23-MJ capaci...

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Main Authors: Miller, R.B., Ballard, E.O., Barr, G.W., Bowman, D.W., Cochrane, J.C., Davis, H.A., Elizondo, J.M., Gribble, R.F., Griego, J.R., Hicks, R.D., Hinckley, W.B., Hosack, K.W., Nielsen, K.E., Parker, J.V., Parsons, M.O., Rickets, R.L., Salazar, H.R., Sanchez, P.G., Scudder, D.W., Shapiro, C., Thompson, M.C., Trainor, R.J., Valdez, G.A., Vigil, B.N., Watt, R.G., Wysocki, F.J.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
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Summary:The Atlas facility, now under construction at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), will provide a unique capability for performing high-energy-density experiments in support of weapon-physics and basic-research programs. Here, the authors describe how the primary element of Atlas is a 23-MJ capacitor bank, comprised of 96 separate Marx generators housed in 12 separate oil-filled tanks, surrounding a central target chamber. Each tank will house two, independently-removable maintenance units, with each maintenance unit consisting of four Marx modules. Each Marx module has four capacitors that can each be charged to a maximum of 60 kilovolts. When railgap switches are triggered, the Marx modules erect to a maximum of 240 kV. The parallel discharge of these 96 Marx modules will deliver a 30-MA current pulse with a 4-5-ys risetime to a cylindrical, imploding liner via 24 vertical, tri-plate, oil-insulated transmission lines. An experimental program for testing and certifying all Marx and transmission line components has been completed. A complete maintenance module and its associated transmission line are now under construction and testing.
DOI:10.1109/PPC.1999.825516