Investigation of the Rod Pinch Diode on PIM as a Radiographic Source

PIM is a water filled Blumlein connected in parallel to one or two 1.5 MV cavities, which inductively add voltage on a high impedance (100 Ohm) vacuum transmission line. A negative polarity rod pinch diode was tested on this 1-3 MV IVA pulse power machine and an investigation into the performance of this radiographic diode was made. Time and spatially resolved investigations into the radiating target geometry were performed and a spot size smaller than 2 mm (AWE defined) was demonstrated. Closing either one or two of the PFL switches on PIM was used to investigate the effects of rise time and peak voltage on the diode.