Pulse power for future X-ray simulators

Summary form only given. The simulator concepts studied were designed to yield 400 kJ of 13 kV Kr K-shell radiation, which requires significantly more power and energy than today\´s systems. The object of the study was to identify technologies that lead to feasible designs, and to compare these designs, e.g. in their affordability. A single PRS ("monolithic") with a 250ns implosion time was the primary object of study; a 100 ns implosion monolithic system and a system of four 250ns modules were studied in less detail. The M-Q-K model developed by NRL and AASC was assumed to predict the radiation output of the PRS. A system analysis combined this model with a simplified circuit to optimize the PRS load and the key circuit components, which were an LC representation of the pulse-forming circuit, connecting transmission lines, and the vacuum region. Optimization suggested peak PRS currents of 42 MA and 52 MA for the 100ns and 250ns monolithic cases and 37 MA each for the four 250ns PRS modules. It was shown that when driving 250ns implosions the driver energy was least when the driver (LC)1/2 time was 125ns. For the 250ns, 52 MA single PRS, it was concluded that four realisable and near-optimum point designs were identified. One uses 60 present-day [(LC)1/2>500ns] Marxes and water transfer capacitors; another uses 96 faster [(LC)1/2=300ns] Marxes with water peaking-capacitors; the third uses 256 still faster [(LC)1/2=175ns] Marxes alone; the fourth uses 64 LTDs. The point designs are compared with each other and with the most similar previous technology, developed in US DoD in the 1970\´s and 1980\´s. Fast stage components are now under development to extend this technology to any of the latter three design approaches and possibly to the Z refurbishment at SNLA.