DESIGN STUDIES FOR ULTRA-FAST, LOW-IMPEDANCE HIGH-PEAK-POWER PULSED SYSTEMS
Abstract
Ultrafast pulsed power systems have proved to be effective energy sources for transducers to produce intense X rays, dense electron beams, and very high temperature plasmas. The principal function of a single shot or low repetition rate pulsed power system is to accept energy at low power levels and subsequently to deliver such energy at extremely high power levels, with maximum efficiency, to a suitable transducer. This objective can best be met by use of either distributed or lumped-constant pulse forming networks where optimum performance is realized by maintaining the proper impedance match between the power source and transducer throughout the energy delivery process. Attainment of the proper impedance match can impose stringent and sometimes contra- indicating requirements upon the dielectric storage media, the switching mechanism, and the transducer chamber. The most promising approach to such power sources appears to be a pulse-charged two-stage coaxial Blumlein system. Such a system can deliver 25 kiloamperes at 2 megavolts in a pulse width of 40 nanoseconds to a suitably matched flash X-ray tube to produce relatively high dose rates with long tube life and minimal maintenance. The performance of a Blumlein exploding wire system, with respect to the rate of energy transfer, is primarily limited by the uncancelled transducer chamber impedance to the extent required to give di/dt values close to 10 to the 14th power amp/sec for wires a few mils in diameter. Attainment of transducer chamber voltage gradients of 300 kv/cm or better in vacuum will result in di/dt values of 1 to 2 x 10 to the 13th power amp/sec.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0475369
Entities
People
- F. M. Charbonnier
- J. K. Trolan
- J. L. Brewster
- K. W. Riegelmann
- L. F. Garrett