Self magnetic pinch diode experiments at AWE

Author

Crotch, I. ; Threadgold, J. ; Sinclair, M. ; Pearce, A.

Author_Institution

Advanced AGEX Group, Berkshire, UK

Volume

1

fYear

2003

fDate

15-18 June 2003

Firstpage

507

Abstract

For many years AWE has used self magnetic (SM) pinch diodes on its lower voltage flash X-ray machines (MEVEX @ 0.8 MV and Mini-B @ 2 MV). With the recent emphasis on reduction of the X-ray spot size, one part of the diode research project has been to field SM pinch diodes at higher voltages. A series of experiments has been conducted on the Mogul D and Eros pulsed power drivers to in an attempt to meet the HRF source term requirements. The charging voltage on Mogul D was increased to its operational maximum and 62R with a 2.1 mm spot (AWE definition) was produced at 4.2 MV. Further shots on the EROS driver failed to match the Mogul D results because of the 110 kV prepulse on EROS. MCNP has been used to calculate dose scaling as a function of charge and voltage for the SM pinch diode. This has shown that long term HRF dose goals are achievable with this diode.

Keywords

Monte Carlo methods; X-ray tubes; driver circuits; pinch effect; plasma diodes; pulsed power supplies; soft magnetic materials; 0.8 MV; 110 kV; 2 MV; 2.1 mm; 4.2 MV; AWE; EROS driver; HRF source; MCNP; MEVEX; Mini-B; X-ray spot size; diode research project; pulsed power driver; self magnetic pinch diode; voltage flash X-ray machine; Aluminum; Anodes; Cathodes; Diodes; Electron beams; Geometry; Magnetic separation; Samarium; Size measurement; 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.2003.1277762

Filename

1277762