The Z refurbishment project (ZR) at Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia's Z accelerator completed original construction in 1985 as PBFA II. The center portion was modified in 1996, converting from a high voltage to a high current configuration to drive z-pinch loads. The environments created have enabled critical experiments that address many Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) and High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) program needs. Z has since grown into a multifaceted workhorse facility. At more than 1000 shots after what was to be a provisional modification to assess scaling of z-pinch current, users are asking that Z be a stable, precision platform for a large number and variety of reliable, reproducible experiments. Much of Z was not optimized for z-pinch applications nor designed for the rigors of daily use at today's 18+ MA output level. This paper provides an overview of the Z Refurbishment (ZR) project, including performance criteria, timeline, test and integration strategies, and current status of the project.