Pegasus II experiments and plans for the Atlas pulsed power facility

Atlas will be a high-energy (36 MJ stored), high-power (/spl sim/10 TW) pulsed power driver for high energy-density experiments, with an emphasis on hydrodynamics. Scheduled for completion in late 1999, Atlas is designed to produce currents in the 40-50 MA range with a quarter-cycle time of 4-5 /spl mu/s. It will drive implosions of heavy liners (typically 50 g) with implosion velocities exceeding 20 mm//spl mu/s. Under these conditions, very high pressures and magnetic fields are produced. Shock pressures in the 50 Mbar range and pressures exceeding 10 Mbar in an adiabatic compression will be possible. By performing flux compression of a seed field, axial magnetic fields in the 2000 T range may be achieved. A variety of concepts have been identified for the first experimental campaigns on Atlas. Experimental configurations, associated physics issues, and diagnostic strategies are all under investigation as the design of the Atlas facility proceeds. Near-term proof-of-principle experiments employing the smaller Pegasus II capacitor bank have been identified, and several of these experiments have now been performed. This paper discusses a number of recent Pegasus II experiments and identifies several areas of research presently planned on Atlas.