High-Power Pinched-Beam Diode Development for Radiographic Applications

Abstract

The negative-polarity rod-pinch diode has been studied at the 6-MV, 150-kA level on the NRL Mercury generator, in both reentrant and non-reentrant geometries. We observe good electrical coupling in reentrant geometry and satisfactory coupling in the non-reentrant case. In contrast to previous results at lower voltage, we see good electrical coupling to thin-walled aluminum anodes We see evidence that the diode geometry away from the rod tip plays a role in diode performance. Our best results to date are 75 rads at 1 meter with a 1.8-mm-diam spot. A spot size as low as 1.3 mm has been obtained, though at lower dose. The measured dose rate agrees very well with that predicted from particle-in-cell/ Monte-Carlo modeling. An initial look at plasma-filled operation indicates that this technique is applicable to high-impedance diodes.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA635001

Entities

People

  • B. M. Huhman
  • David Hinshelwood
  • Deane F. Mosher
  • Donald P. Murphy
  • Gerald Cooperstein
  • Joseph W. Schumer
  • Paul F. Ottinger
  • Raymond J. Allen
  • Robert J. Commisso
  • S. L. Jackson

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminum
  • Converters
  • Couplings
  • Diameters
  • Dose Rate
  • Electrons
  • Generators
  • Geometry
  • High Resolution
  • Impedance
  • Particles
  • Polarity
  • Pulsed Power
  • Radiation
  • Research Facilities
  • Walls
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.