Circuit model predictions for the performance of ZR

With the completion of the ZR upgrade of the Z accelerator at the Sandia National Laboratories in the summer of 2007, pulsed-power checkout and initial wirearray experiments will begin. The first experiments will be done at reduced machine voltage to allow characterization of the machine, and debugging of components and diagnostics. Predictions for the performance of the machine with various loads and pulsed-power configurations have been made based on measurements made on the Z20 single-module test facility. The pulsed-power drive from the single-module experiments has been well characterized. However performance of the full system is less certain because it is based on calculated impedances and predicted losses, rather than measurements that are not possible before assembly of the full machine. With these caveats in mind we predict load currents and rise-times for the full machine for both short-pulse and long-pulse wire-array and isentropic compression experiment (ICE) load configurations. These predictions will be given for both the low-voltage startup conditions, and full-voltage operation. Also presented will be equivalent circuit models for ZR that can be imported into other design codes. All predictions are done with Screamer and Bertha circuit-code models.