High velocity flyer plate launch capability on the Sandia Z accelerator

A method has been developed for launching plates useful for equation of state (EOS) studies to high velocities using fast pulsed power on the Sandia National Laboratories Z Accelerator. The technique employs magnetic pressure developed in an insulating gap between the anode and cathode of the machine to provide smoothly increasing, quasi-isentropic loading to plates of 9 – 12 mm in diameter and hundreds of microns thickness. Successful launches of titanium to ∼12km/s, aluminum to ∼13km/s, and copper to ∼10km/s have been demonstrated. The plates were monitored through the entire launch process with both conventional and spatially resolved velocity interferometry to obtain acceleration histories and impact profiles. Impacts of the flyers into aluminum wedges were also performed to experimentally estimate final plate thickness. Initial indications are that the plates are intact, slightly bowed, and at essentially ambient state.