One-kilojoule pulsed-power generator for laboratory space sciences

This paper reports on the assembly of a compact, low-cost, pulsed-power facility used for plasma studies. The construction uses two modules placed on opposite sides of the test chamber to minimize the system impedance and improve access to test samples. The stored energy is 1  kJ with a peak current...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of scientific instruments 2022-04, Vol.93 (4), p.043505-043505
Main Author: Wessel, Frank J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerospace environments
Internal energy
Plasma jets
Plasmas (physics)
Scientific apparatus & instruments
Test chambers
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Summary:This paper reports on the assembly of a compact, low-cost, pulsed-power facility used for plasma studies. The construction uses two modules placed on opposite sides of the test chamber to minimize the system impedance and improve access to test samples. The stored energy is 1  kJ with a peak current of 135  kA and a 1592  ns quarter-period time. Up until now, an imploding conical-wire array has been studied by using time-integrated (visible) imaging, and time-resolved laser imaging, providing a measure of the plasma jet speed in the range of 170  km/s. Our future plans will continue to investigate high-energy-density plasmas that are relevant to the space environment, fusion, and spectroscopy.
ISSN:0034-6748
1089-7623
DOI:10.1063/5.0079450