Publications

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An analytic model for electron flow in a system driving a fixed inductive load is described and evaluated with particle in cell simulations. The simple model allows determining the impedance profile for a magnetically insulated transmission line given the minimum gap desired, and the lumped inductance inside the transition to the minimum gap. The model allows specifying the relative electron flow along the power flow direction, including cases where the fractional electron flow decreases in the power flow direction. The electrons are able to return to the cathode because they gain energy from the temporally rising magnetic field. The simulations were done with small cell size to reduce numerical heating. An experiment to compare electron flow to the simulations was done. The measured electron flow is {approx}33% of the value from the simulations. The discrepancy is assumed to be due to a reversed electric field at the cathode because of the inductive load and falling electron drift velocity in the power flow direction. The simulations constrain the cathode electric field to zero, which gives the highest possible electron flow.

Study of the Triggered Plasma Opening Switch (TPOS) characteristics is in progress via an ion current collection diagnostic (ICCD), in addition to offline apparatus. This initial ion current collection diagnostic has been designed, fabricated, and tested on the TPOS in order to explore the opening profile of the main switch. The initial ion current collection device utilizes five collectors which are positioned perpendicularly to the main switch stage in order to collect radially traveling ions. It has been shown through analytical prowess that this specific geometry can be treated as a planar case of the Child-Langmuir law with only a 6% deviation from the cylindrical case. Additionally, magnetostatic simulations with self consistent space charge emitting surfaces of the main switch using the Trak code are under way. It is hoped that the simulations will provide evidence in support of both the analytical derivations and experimental data. Finally, an improved design of the ICCD (containing 12 collectors in the axial direction) is presently being implemented. © 2005 IEEE.

The ZR accelerator is a refurbishment of Sandia National Laboratories Z accelerator [1]. The ZR accelerator components were designed using electrostatic and circuit modeling tools. Transient electromagnetic modeling has played a complementary role in the analysis of ZR components [2]. In this paper we describe a 3D transient electromagnetic analysis of the ZR water convolute and stack using edge-based finite element techniques. © 2005 IEEE.

The Z driver at Sandia National Laboratories delivers one to two megajoules of electromagnetic energy inside its ∼10 cm radius final feed in 100 ns. The high current (∼20 MA) at small diameter produces magnetic pressures well above yield strengths for metals. The metal conductors stay in place due to inertia long enough to deliver current to the load. Within milliseconds however, fragments of metal escape the load region at high velocity. Much of the hardware and diagnostics inside the vacuum chamber is protected from this debris by blast shields with small view ports, and fast-closing valves. The water-vacuum insulator requires different protection because the transmission line debris shield should not significantly raise the inductance or perturb the self-magnetically insulated electron flow. This report shows calculations and results from a design intended to protect the insulator assembly. © 2005 IEEE.

The Triggered Plasma Opening Switch (TPOS) at SNL is a unique device that exploits the high conductivity and low mass properties of plasma. The TPOS's objective is to take the initial ∼0.8MA (∼250ns rise time) storage inductor current and deliver ∼0.5MA at ∼2.4MV (∼10ns rise time) to a load of ∼5-10Ω. Configuration advantages include low current jitter and resistive voltage drop, power gain, and minimization of trigger input power as the result of using two stages in series. This two-stage design is novel and is the first to demonstrate operation of magnetically triggered stages. Study of TPOS characteristics is in progress via an offline interferometer diagnostic; specifically, a laser interferometer will be used to make density measurements of the source plasma. It is thought that the gross plasma source density is ∼1014 cm-3, but details of the spatial structure and temporal evolution have not previously been studied. In order to better understand switch operation, these details are essential. Presently two interferometer systems are planned for testing: a temporary 1 μm system for initial plasma characterization, and a 10.6 mu;m laser system for routine use. We will start with a single chord measurement then upgrade to a multi-chord system. Future plans involve varying plasma source parameters, such as magnetic field strength and plasma fill time, in order to understand the density dependence on these parameters. Improved knowledge of the plasma source density behavior should allow for improved switch operation. © 2005 IEEE.

Although there is much written in regards to voltage breakdown of polymeric insulators under AC and DC conditions, much less is written involving Rexolite® (1422) [1], non-uniform field geometries, and impulse conditions. Yet, in order to design optimized pulsed power systems with some desired degree of reliability, understanding the behavior of this type of insulating system is needed. Specifically, Sandia National Laboratory's ZR project, which will use anode plugs in the vacuum stack (thus increasing the electrical stress in the Rexolite insulators), needs to be able to estimate the reliability of these vacuum stack insulators [2]. In an effort to estimate the insulator's lifetime small scale testing is in progress. Nine samples have been tested so far and at least ten more will be tested. Results from the current testing suggest that the Rexolite "ages" from pulse to pulse, that there is some volume dependence on breakdown strength, and that the electrode-vacuum-insulator interface has an affect on the insulator lifetime. ©2005 IEEE.

We have developed a system of differential-output monitors that diagnose current and voltage in the vacuum section of a 20-MA 3-MV pulsed-power accelerator. The system includes 62 gauges: 3 current and 6 voltage monitors that are fielded on each of the accelerator's 4 vacuum-insulator stacks, 6 current monitors on each of the accelerator's 4 outer magnetically insulated transmission lines (MITLs), and 2 current monitors on the accelerator's inner MITL. The inner-MITL monitors are located 6 cm from the axis of the load. Each of the stack and outer-MITL current monitors comprises two separate B-dot sensors, each of which consists of four 3-mm-diameter wire loops wound in series. The two sensors are separately located within adjacent cavities machined out of a single piece of copper. The high electrical conductivity of copper minimizes penetration of magnetic flux into the cavity walls, which minimizes changes in the sensitivity of the sensors on the 100-ns time scale of the accelerator's power pulse. A model of flux penetration has been developed and is used to correct (to first order) the B-dot signals for the penetration that does occur. The two sensors are designed to produce signals with opposite polarities; hence, each current monitor may be regarded as a single detector with differential outputs. Common-mode-noise rejection is achieved by combining these signals in a 50-{Omega} balun. The signal cables that connect the B-dot monitors to the balun are chosen to provide reasonable bandwidth and acceptable levels of Compton drive in the bremsstrahlung field of the accelerator. A single 50-{omega} cable transmits the output signal of each balun to a double-wall screen room, where the signals are attenuated, digitized (0.5-ns/sample), numerically compensated for cable losses, and numerically integrated. By contrast, each inner-MITL current monitor contains only a single B-dot sensor. These monitors are fielded in opposite-polarity pairs. The two signals from a pair are not combined in a balun; they are instead numerically processed for common-mode-noise rejection after digitization. All the current monitors are calibrated on a 76-cm-diameter axisymmetric radial transmission line that is driven by a 10-kA current pulse. The reference current is measured by a current-viewing resistor (CVR). The stack voltage monitors are also differential-output gauges, consisting of one 1.8-cm-diameter D-dot sensor and one null sensor. Hence, each voltage monitor is also a differential detector with two output signals, processed as described above. The voltage monitors are calibrated in situ at 1.5 MV on dedicated accelerator shots with a short-circuit load. Faraday's law of induction is used to generate the reference voltage: currents are obtained from calibrated outer-MITL B-dot monitors, and inductances from the system geometry. In this way, both current and voltage measurements are traceable to a single CVR. Dependable and consistent measurements are thus obtained with this system of calibrated diagnostics. On accelerator shots that deliver 22 MA to a low-impedance z-pinch load, the peak lineal current densities at the stack, outer-MITL, and inner-MITL monitor locations are 0.5, 1, and 58 MA/m, respectively. On such shots the peak currents measured at these three locations agree to within 1%.

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