Initialization and Operation of Mercury, A 6-MV MIVA

Mercury became operational in a stepwise manner to test the machine components after modifications and reassembly at NRL. To avoid damaging the MIVA, extensive testing of the laser and PFL output switches was performed using dummy loads. Finally, the PFLs were connected to the MIVA and Mercury was fired into a simple cylindrical diode load with a Marx charge voltage up to 75 kV. Measured MIVA currents and voltages compare well with a circuit model of the MIVA fed by the measured PFL outputs and with PIC simulations of the MIVA and the diode load.