Electrostatic analysis of multi-megavolt flash X-ray machines at AWE, Aldermaston

Historically, X-ray machines at AWE have been designed using a combination of back of the envelope calculations and field plotting using electrolytic tanks. The continuing increase in computer power now makes it practical to increase the sophistication of the calculations and to analyse much more detailed models than previously possible using physical methods. All of the current in-service flash X-ray machines have been electrostatically modelled and some of the results of that investigation are presented.