Title :
High-power pinched-beam diode development for radiographic applications
Author :
Hinshelwood, David ; Allen, R.J. ; Commisso, R.J. ; Cooperstein, G. ; Huhman, B.M. ; Jackson, S.L. ; Mosher, D. ; Murphy, D.P. ; Ottinger, P.F. ; Schumer, J.W. ; Swanekamp, S.B. ; Weber, B.V. ; Young, Frederic ; Threadgold, J. ; Oliver, B.V.
Author_Institution :
Pulsed Power Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC 20375 USA
Abstract :
The negative-polarity rod-pinch diode has been studied at the 6-MV, 150-kA level on the NRL Mercury generator, in both reentrant and non-reentrant geometries. We observe good electrical coupling in reentrant geometry and satisfactory coupling in the non-reentrant case. In contrast to previous results at lower voltage, we see good electrical coupling to thin-walled aluminum anodes We see evidence that the diode geometry away from the rod tip plays a role in diode performance. Our best results to date are 75 rads at 1 meter with a 1.8-mm-diam spot. A spot size as low as 1.3 mm has been obtained, though at lower dose. The measured dose rate agrees very well with that predicted from particle-in-cell/Monte-Carlo modeling. An initial look at plasma-filled operation indicates that this technique is applicable to high-impedance diodes.
Keywords :
Aluminum; Anodes; Couplings; Diodes; Geometry; Particle measurements; Plasma measurements; Radiography; Thin wall structures; Voltage;
Conference_Titel :
Pulsed Power Conference, 2007 16th IEEE International
Conference_Location :
Albuquerque, NM
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-0913-6
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-0914-3
DOI :
10.1109/PPPS.2007.4651914
