Development of a terawatt test stand at the University of Missouri for fast, multichannel switching analysis

The University of Missouri Terawatt Test Stand (MUTTS) began assembly in January 2003. Construction of MUTTS is progressing rapidly with the design and development of its high energy Marx bank. The Marx bank consists of 32, 100 kV, 0.7 /spl mu/F capacitors switched by 16 Physics International T508 spark gaps. The Marx is switched into two parallel 7 nF, intermediate storage capacitors, which are fired into a dummy load through a fast multi-channeling output switch. The Marx stores 100 kJ and can deliver a voltage of 2 MV at 500 kA into a 4 /spl Omega/ load delivering 1 TW to the load. Initial testing will be of a multichanneling 2 MV output switch, which scales nicely to a 6 MV switch design for future very high energy machines at Sandia National Laboratories. The output switch is to reliably multichannel, or close with many parallel arc channels. The goal is to adapt an existing multichanneling switch to create a multichanneling output switch with significant operational advantages, including lower inductance, compared to existing multichannel switches. The target switch inductance is 100 nH or less. The facility and tank were assembled from January to June 2003, with testing to begin in July 2003. Simulations of the test stand and specifications of the output switch will be presented. Electrode configurations and switch augmentations that will facilitate a reliable multi-channeling switch will be introduced. Details describing the development of the MUTTS facility will be included.