The PFL Squiggle: An Independent Monitor of Trigger and Cascade Section Runtimes
Abstract
The refurbished Z pulsed power driver has been operational since October of 2007 delivering a peak current of approximate 26 MA to the load. A critical component of the refurbished Z accelerator was the Laser Triggered Gas Switch (LTGS) with a maximum proven operating point of 6.5 MV, 820 kA and an overall 1-sigma timing jitter of approximate 6 ns. We have identified a feature in the V-dot monitor on the Pulse Forming Line (PFL) downstream of the LTGS which is indicative of the closure of the trigger section of the switch. The PFL squiggle feature allows us to independently measure the runtime of the cascade and trigger sections and identify problems associated with the laser triggering of the switch, such as poor alignment or degrading transmission of the focusing lens. The squiggle also helps characterize the effect of changes in operating conditions and switch design. For the most recent design version of the LTGS, the trigger and cascade section runtimes with 1-sigma jitter are 0.8 plus or minus 1.3 ns and 46 plus or minus 5.3 ns respectively. The trigger and cascade section runtimes are not correlated suggesting that the trigger and cascade sections operate independently of each other.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA629144
Entities
People
- D. E. Bliss
- J. E. Potter
- J. J. Seamen
- J. P. Corley
- J. R. Woodworth
- K. R. Lechien
- K. W. Struve
- M. E. Savage
- S. D. Ploor
- T. G. Avila
Organizations
- Sandia National Laboratories