Additively manufactured electrodes for plasma and power-flow studies in high-power transmission lines on the 1-MA MAIZE facility
- Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States); Cornell University
- Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Power-flow studies on the 30-MA, 100-ns Z facility at Sandia National Laboratories have shown that plasmas in the facility’s magnetically insulated transmission lines (MITLs) and double post-hole convolute can result in a loss of current delivered to the load. To study power-flow physics on the 1-MA, 100-ns MAIZE facility at the University of Michigan, planar MITL loads and planar post-hole convolute loads have been developed that extend into the lines of sight for various imaging diagnostics on MAIZE. These loads use 3D-printed dielectric support structures lined with thin foils of either aluminum or stainless steel. Here, the metal foils serve as the current-carrying power-flow surfaces, which generate plasma during the current pulse. The foil thickness (50 µm) and widths (11.5–16 mm) are selected to ensure a sufficient linear current density (0.5–0.7 MA/cm) for plasma formation. Laser backlighting (532 nm) and visible-light self-emission imaging capture the overall plasma evolution in the anode–cathode gaps, including the gap closure velocities (1–4 cm/μs).
- Research Organization:
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NA0003764
- OSTI ID:
- 1784728
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1784588
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 92; ISSN 0034-6748
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English