Measurement of trigger and cascade section runtimes in 6 MV switches using fiber coupled photodetectors

Since October 2007 Sandia National Laboratories has operated the refurbished Z machine at an improved load current of 26 MA yielding 400 TW of x-ray power. The current pulse shape to the load is controlled by 36 independently timed laser triggered gas switches. As part of the refurbishment effort, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review special topics. PRST-AB. Accelerators and beams 2012-07, Vol.15 (7), p.072802, Article 072802
Main Authors: Schwarz, Jens, Bliss, David, Woodworth, Joe, Savage, Mark, Potter, James, Avila, Tom, Ploor, Stephen, Rambo, Patrick, Atherton, Briggs
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Fiber lasers
Laser plasmas
Lasers
Pulse shape
Refurbishment
Switches
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Summary:Since October 2007 Sandia National Laboratories has operated the refurbished Z machine at an improved load current of 26 MA yielding 400 TW of x-ray power. The current pulse shape to the load is controlled by 36 independently timed laser triggered gas switches. As part of the refurbishment effort, a fiber coupled laser spark detector system has been installed which is able to detect the laser generated plasma in situ inside the trigger section of the high voltage switch. In this paper we describe how this detection system can be used to characterize the discharge dynamics of these 5.9 MV, 820 kA switches.
ISSN:1098-4402
1098-4402
2469-9888
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.15.072802