Pulsed power sciences at Sandia National Laboratories - The next generation

A combination of theory, simulation, and high-quality experiments has enabled significant progress in many high energy density science applications. While the recent science and engineering of pulsed power has been focused on the refurbishment of Z and developing advanced radiographic capabilities, discovery and innovation in the fundamental architecture of pulsed power systems have also made significant advances. This progress started in 1996 when the Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator (PBFA II), which began operation in 1985, was converted to the Z facility. The Z Refurbishment (ZR) project began six years later, driven by the need for more capacity (the ability to perform more experiments), improved precision (more precise pulse shaping, longer pulses, and reduced jitter), and more capability (higher energy delivered to the load and better diagnostic access). Over the past year, the Z facility was completely dismantled and rebuilt with newly designed components within the same basic 36-module architecture. With the completion of this project in 2007, the pulsed power sciences program at Sandia will work with many collaborators to apply this new capability to many areas of high energy density science, including z-pinch-driven inertial confinement fusion, dynamic materials properties, and radiation hydrodynamics. This paper summarizes recent and planned research on the Z facility, the ZR Project, advances in high-photon-energy radiography, derivative applications of the pulsed power program, and advances in the science of pulsed power that could revolutionize the next-generation facilities.