Self magnetic pinch diode experiments at 4-6 MV

Summary form only given. Self Magnetic Pinch diode experiments carried out at voltages of 4-6 MV using a variety of different pulse power drivers. Experiments were carried out using the single pulse forming line Asterix driver at CEG Gramat in France and both the high and low impedance versions of the Inductive Voltage Adder (IVA) RITS3 driver at Sandia National Labs in the USA. The experiments showed successful operation of the diode on all the drivers with doses in excess of 150 Rads @ 1 m and spot sizes of less than 3 mm (AWE definition). Record current densities on the target for a radiographic diode were produced at approximately 350 kA/cm. Results of the experiments are presented and compared to code predictions. The Self Magnetic Pinch diode has been used at lower voltages (<2 MV) as a radiographic source for hydrodynamic experiments.