Five to 10 MA experiments using flat plate explosive generators

High explosive pulsed power (HEPP) techniques can address a wide range of pulsed power needs. The basis for HEPP techniques is the use of high explosives to reduce the inductance of a current-carrying circuit, thus multiplying the current due to magnetic flux conservation. For the past twenty years at Los Alamos, the authors' high energy density physics (HEDP) program has followed a path leading to more sophisticated and higher current (and often power) systems. Twenty years ago, they had the capability of conducting tests at 10, or even 30 MA, with no power conditioning and low inductance loads. The time scale of the experiment was the time it took to compress the flux explosively, and their fastest generator with high current capability was a plate generator. The operating time of the generator is less than 15 /spl mu/s, and flux loading requires either an additional /spl sim/60 /spl mu/s or a reduced-efficiency inductive coupling scheme. They could also deliver shortened pulses to select loads by completing their generator circuit, initially, with a relatively high inductance circuit element, then switching in a lower inductance with 2-3 /spl mu/s left of the generator pulse.

I. HEPP COMPONENTS

There was a renewed need for such a system in ~1980, and at that time we began assembling a complete set of techniques required for success. We first fielded a baseline test using a simplified version of the HEPP system that generated the Figure 1 data. Subsequent tests followed a “bite size” philosophy. That is, we first designed a complete system for a level of complexity at which we believed success could be achieved. We conducted tests of that system, and once it was working in all respects, we designed the next generation system. The ultimate goal of this process was to develop a source of ~1 MJ of soft x-rays. The process culminated, after the development of two intermediate level systems [3], [4], with the development of the Procyon system [5]. This system produced x-ray pulses of up to 1.7 MJ at temperatures up to 97 eV [6]. Figure 1. Currents for a Short-Pulse Plate Generator Experiment. For this Test, Three Plate Generators were Used in Parallel. and are Generator and Load Currents Respectively.