Overview of the 6-MV, rod-pinch experiment on ASTERIX

Author

Commisso, R.J. ; Young, F.C. ; Allen, R.J. ; Mosher, D. ; Swanekamp, S.B. ; Cooperstein, G. ; Bayol, F. ; Garrigues, A. ; Delbos, C. ; Nicot, G. ; Vermare, C. ; Delvaux, J. ; Hordé, Y. ; Merle, E. ; Nicolas, R. ; Noré, D. ; Pierret, O. ; Rosal, Y.R. ; Tai

Author_Institution

Div. of Plasma Phys., Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

1

fYear

2003

fDate

15-18 June 2003

Firstpage

479

Abstract

This work presents the highlights of high-voltage, positive-polarity experiments on the ASTERIX generator characterizing the rod-pinch diode at up to 6 MV as a source for high-resolution, flash radiography. The paper reviews experimental results and analyses including conversion of ASTERIX to positive polarity, rod-pinch electrical and radiation characteristics, comparisons to numerical simulation, and composite rod-pinch performance. A minimum LANL source diameter of 1.32 mm with a dose of 23.7 rad(air) at 1 m was achieved at a peak voltage of 5.9 MV, leading to a radiographic figure-of-merit of 13.6 rad(Si)/mm/sup 2/. The results demonstrate the utility of the rod pinch for high-power pulsed radiography at up to 6 MV.

Keywords

elemental semiconductors; p-i-n diodes; pulse generators; pulsed power switches; radiography; silicon; 1.32 mm; 5.9 MV; 6 MV; ASTERIX generator; LANL source diameter; flash radiography; high-power pulsed radiography; high-voltage positive-polarity experiment; numerical simulation; peak voltage; radiation characteristics; radiographic figure-of-merit; rod-pinch diode; Anodes; Diodes; Gold; Oil insulation; Petroleum; Physics; Plasmas; Radiography; Switches; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Pulsed Power Conference, 2003. Digest of Technical Papers. PPC-2003. 14th IEEE International

Conference_Location

Dallas, TX, USA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7915-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PPC.2003.1277755

Filename

1277755