Publications

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In October 2005, an intensive three-year Laser Triggered Gas Switch (LTGS) development program was initiated to investigate and solve observed performance and reliability issues with the LTGS for ZR. The approach taken has been one of mission-focused research: to revisit and reassess the design, to establish a fundamental understanding of LTGS operation and failure modes, and to test evolving operational hypotheses. This effort is aimed toward deploying an initial switch for ZR in 2007, on supporting rolling upgrades to ZR as the technology can be developed, and to prepare with scientific understanding for the even higher voltage switches anticipated needed for future high-yield accelerators. The ZR LTGS was identified as a potential area of concern quite early, but since initial assessments performed on a simplified Switch Test Bed (STB) at 5 MV showed 300-shot lifetimes on multiple switch builds, this component was judged acceptable. When the Z{sub 20} engineering module was brought online in October 2003 frequent flashovers of the plastic switch envelope were observed at the increased stresses required to compensate for the programmatically increased ZR load inductance. As of October 2006, there have been 1423 Z{sub 20} shots assessing a variety of LTGS designs. Numerous incremental and fundamental switch design modifications have been investigated. As we continue to investigate the LTGS, the basic science of plastic surface tracking, laser triggering, cascade breakdown, and optics degradation remain high-priority mission-focused research topics. Significant progress has been made and, while the switch does not yet achieve design requirements, we are on the path to develop successively better switches for rolling upgrade improvements to ZR. This report summarizes the work performed in FY 2006 by the large team. A high-level summary is followed by detailed individual topical reports.

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The purpose of this work was to develop a conceptual design for the Saturn accelerator using the modular Liner-Transformer Driver (LTD) technology to identify risks and to focus development and research for this new technology. We present a reference design for a Saturn class driver based on a number of linear inductive voltage adders connected in parallel. This design is very similar to a design reported five years ago [1]. However, with the design reported here we use 1-MA, 100-kV LTD cavities as building blocks. These cavities have already been built and are currently in operation at the HCEI in Tomsk, Russia [2]. Therefore, this new design integrates already-proven individual components into a full system design.

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Measurements within 10% accuracy of the dynamic dipole polarizabilities α (λ) for five nonrefractory metal atoms (Mg, Ag, Al, Cu, and Au) at laser wavelengths of λ=532 and 1064 nm are presented using electrical explosion of thin wires in vacuum and a novel laser probing integrated-phase technique. The technique is based on single-wavelength interferometry and does not require axial symmetry of the tested object. Theoretical prediction of α (λ) for wavelengths λ=355, 532, and 1064 nm, as well as the static dipole polarizabilities αst, are also presented. An agreement within 20% was obtained between calculated data, recommended static polarizabilities αst, and the measured dynamic polarizabilities α (532 nm) and α (1064 nm). © 2006 The American Physical Society.

Summary from only given. The capabilities of the Z accelerator will be significantly enhanced by the Z Refurbishment (ZR) project [McDaniel DH, 2002]. The performance of a single ZR module is currently being characterized in the pre-production engineering evaluation test bed, Z20 [Lehr, JM, 2003]. Z20 is thoroughly diagnosed so that electrical performance of the module can be established. Circuit models of Z20 have been developed and validated in both Screamer [1985] and Bertha [1989] circuit codes. For the purposes of predicting ZR performance, a full ZR circuit model has also been developed in Bertha. The full ZR model (using operating parameters demonstrated on Z20) indicates that the required 26 MA, 100 ns implosion time, output load current pulse will be achieved on ZR. In this paper, the electrical characterization of Z20 and development of the single module circuit models will be discussed in detail. The full ZR model will also be discussed and the results of several system studies conducted to predict ZR performance will be presented.

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Many accelerators at Sandia National Laboratories utilize the Rimfire gas switch for high-voltage, high-power switching. Future accelerators will have increased performance requirements for switching elements. When designing improved versions of the Rimfire switch, there is a need for quick and accurate simulation of the electrical effects of geometry changes. This paper presents an advanced circuit model of the Rimfire switch that can be used for these simulations. The development of the model is shown along with comparisons to past models and experimental results.

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A quasi-spherical z-pinch may directly compress foam or deuterium and tritium in three dimensions as opposed to a cylindrical z-pinch, which compresses an internal load in two dimensions only. Because of compression in three dimensions the quasi-spherical z-pinch is more efficient at doing pdV work on an internal fluid than a cylindrical pinch. Designs of quasi-spherical z-pinch loads for the 28 MA 100 ns driver ZR, results from zero-dimensional (0D) circuit models of quasi-spherical implosions, and results from 1D hydrodynamic simulations of quasi-spherical implosions heating internal fluids will be presented. Applications of the quasi-spherical z-pinch implosions include a high radiation temperature source for radiation driven experiments, a source of neutrons for treating radioactive waste, and a source of fusion energy for a power generator.

The experimental and computational investigations of nanosecond electrical explosion of thin Al wire in vacuum are presented. We have demonstrated that increasing the current rate leads to increased energy deposited before voltage collapse. Laser shadowgrams of the overheated Al core exhibit axial stratification with a {approx}100 {micro}m period. The experimental evidence for synchronization of the wire expansion and light emission with voltage collapse is presented. Two-wavelength interferometry shows an expanding Al core in a low-ionized gas condition with increasing ionization toward the periphery. Hydrocarbons are indicated in optical spectra and their influence on breakdown physics is discussed. The radial velocity of low-density plasma reaches a value of {approx}100 km/s. The possibility of an overcritical phase transition due to high pressure is discussed. 1D MHD simulation shows good agreement with experimental data. MHD simulation demonstrates separation of the exploding wire into a high-density cold core and a low-density hot corona as well as fast rejection of the current from the wire core to the corona during voltage collapse. Important features of the dynamics for wire core and corona follow from the MHD simulation and are discussed.

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A new laser trigger system (LTS) has been installed on Z that benefits the experimenter with reduced temporal jitter on the x-ray output, the confidence to use command triggers for time sensitive diagnostics and the ability to shape the current pulse at the load. This paper presents work on the pulse shaping aspects of the new LTS. Pulse shaping is possible because the trigger system is based on 36 individual lasers, one per each pulsed power module, instead of a single laser for the entire machine. The firing time of each module can be individually controlled to create an overall waveform that is the linear superposition of all 36 modules. In addition, each module can be set to a long- or short-pulse mode for added flexibility. The current waveform has been stretched from ∼100 ns to ∼250 ns. A circuit model has been developed with BERTHA Code, which contains the independent timing feature of the new LTS to predict and design pulse shapes. The ability to pulse-shape directly benefits isentropic compression experiments (ICE) and equation of state measurements (EOS) for the shock physics programs at Sandia National Laboratories. With the new LTS, the maximum isentropic loading applied to Cu samples 750 um thick has been doubled to 3.2 Mb without generating a shockwave. Macroscopically thick sample of Al, 1.5 mm, have been isentropically compressed to 1.7 Mb. Also, shockless Ti flyer-plates have been launched to 21 km·s-1, remaining in the solid state until impact.

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