Investigation of the Self Magnetic Pinch Diode on PIM as a Radiographic Source

PIM is a water filled Blumlein connected, in parallel, to one or two 1.5 MV, cavities which inductively add voltage on a high impedance (100 Ohm) vacuum transmission line. A self-magnetic pinch configured diode was tested on this 1-3 MV IVA pulse power machine and an investigation into the performance of this radiographic diode was made using simple hollow cathodes with a plane, grounded anode configuration. Time dependant resolution of the total radiation obtained and a 2.5 mm diameter (AWE defined) source was demonstrated. Closing either one or two of the PFL switches on PIM was used to investigate the effects of rise time and peak voltage on the diode.