Design and Performance of Large Area Monolithic Electron Guns for the Aurora KrF Laser System
Abstract
Aurora is an inertial confinement fusion laser system using optical angular multiplexing and a chain of four cold cathode electron beam driven KrF laser amplifiers to produce 10 to 20 kJ of optical energy. The electron guns make use of graphite felt cathodes that range in emission area from 1,200 cm2 to 20,000 cm2 and are typically driven by Marx generator charged waterline PFLs of 2.7 omega impedance that produce 650 ns pulses when switched by SF6 insulated trigatrons. Typical cathode voltages are 300 kV to 700 kV with cathode current densities of 15 to 25 A/cm2 . Electron current is transported to the laser gas through metal foil or Kapton windows and a hibachi support structure. Magnetic guide fields of 1.8 to 3.0 kG are used for beam guidance. In this paper, we will concentrate on the major electron gun components of these amplifiers: Marx generators, water PFLs , output switches, feedthrough bushings , cold cathode diodes , and magnets . All of the Aurora e-guns are similar , except that the SAM does not employ a PFL and the LAM uses two electron guns, each driven by two PFLs in parallel. The design and performance of the electron guns are described in more detail in the sections that follow.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA637501
Entities
People
- F. W. Van Haaften
- J. P. Brucker
- L. A. Rosocha
- M. Kang
- V. O. Romero
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory