Pulsed Power Experiments in Hydrodynamics and Material Properties
Abstract
In the last five years, a new application for high performance pulsed power program has joined the traditional family of radiation source applications in the Stockpile Stewardship. This new application is the production of high energy density environments in materials for the study of material properties and hydrodynamics in complex geometries. The principle tool for producing high energy density environments is the high precision, magnetically imploded, near-solid density liner. The most attractive pulsed power system fa driving such experiments is an ultra-high current, low impedance, microsecond time scale source that is economical both to build and operate. Two families of pulsed power systems can be applied to drive such experiments. The 25-MJ Atlas capacitor bank system currently under construction at Los Alamos is the first system of its scale specifically designed to drive high precision solid liners. Delivering 30 MA, Atlas will provide liner velocities 12-15 km/sec and kinetic energies of 1-2 MJ/cm with extensive diagnostics and excellent reproducibility. Explosive flux compressor technology provides access to currents exceeding 100 MA producing liner velocities above 25 km&c and kinetic energies ti 5-20 MJ/cm in single shot operations. In this paper we will review basic scaling arguments that set the scope of the environments available with pulsed power drive. We will overview the pulsed power technology under development at Los Alamos for high energy density experiments and provide a summary of results from exploration of the physics limiting the performance of near solid metal liners under magnetic drive. We will present f&v examples of hydrodynamic experiments performed with interim systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA638537
Entities
People
- Robert E. Reinovsky
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory