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Plasma erosion opening switch research for ICF

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

B. V. Weber
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
J. R. Boller
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
D. G. Colombant
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
R. J. Commisso
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
G. Cooperstein
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
J. M. Grossmann
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
D. D. Hinshelwood
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
R. A. Meger
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
D. Mosher
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
J. M. Neri
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
W. F. Oliphant
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
P. F. Ottinger
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
V. E. Scherrer
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
S. J. Stephanakis
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
F. C. Young
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
R. W. Stinnett
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
E. W. Gray
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
D. H. McDaniel
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
T. J. Renk
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
G. Rochau
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

Abstract

Inertial confinement fusion using light ion beams requires fast rise time, high power drivers. One technique to enhance a conventional pulsed power generator is to use a plasma erosion opening switch (PEOS) between the generator and the ion diode. Ideally, the PEOS conducts current until a current threshold is reached, then rapidly opens and delivers the inductively stored energy to the load on a short time scale. Experiments at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) used a PEOS to improve the Gamble II current rise time from 60 ns to 10 ns at 1 MA. Load voltages over 4 MV have been obtained (>2× the matched load voltage).

Based on these experiments and theoretical predictions, a PEOS system has been incorporated into the PBFA II experiment at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). The PEOS on PBFA II is ultimately to provide a 6 to 8-MA, 30-MV pulse with 10-ns rise time into an “applied B” ion diode. This is a large extrapolation of present experiments. The PEOS system on PBFA II is described here and theoretical predictions are given.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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