A magnetically insulated transmission line connected to the ASTERIX 6MV generator for X-rays diode research

Summary form only given. At the "Polygone d'Experimentations de Moronvilliers" (PEM near Reims), the CEA/DAM develops a new 8 MV-50 Omega Flash (50 ns) X-rays facility for radiographic studies. This pulsed power machine is based on a linear transformer driver (LTD) generator who provides the energy to an X-rays diode. The geometry of the diode is not chosen yet, however the previous experimental tests show encouraging results from a negative rod pinch scheme. The ASTERIX generator is a Blumlein system connected to a vacuum chamber via an axial insulator stack. After, the energy transmits through a short (1 meter) coaxial line with impedance of 115 Omega and reaches the diode region. This generator has a maximum voltage of 7.2 MV on a 72 Omega load. It was used since 2000 to perform X-rays diode research using the described geometry. To go further on the diode investigation and optimization, a MITL section has been designed and connected to the ASTERIX generator. This 2 meters line replaces the vacuum chamber right after the insulator stack. The sizes of the internal and external conductors were chosen to match the future LTD machine. The impedance, with electron flowing in the vacuum gap is 50 Omega. We propose to present the results obtained with this new configuration. First, a simple "large surface plane diode" was used to control the overall functioning. A specific diagnostic was developed to measure the current flow at different radius using a multi inductive gaps system. After those tests, a RPN geometry will be tested. If so the results will be added to the presentation proposed