Design of the ZT-1 toroidal pinch experiment

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4132877· OSTI ID:4132877

Baker, D A; Burkhardt, L C; Dike, R S; Di Marco, J N; Forman, P R; Haberstich, A; Karr, H J; Mann, L W; Phillips, J A; Schofield, A E

Electrical design details are given for a toroidal Z-pinch device named ZT-1 that uses field programming to achieve a stable, reversed field pinch. The plasma is formed in a 4-mm-thick, 10.3-cm-i.d., high alumina, segmented ceramic vacuum chamber. Voltages as high as 70 kV are routinely attained by interrupting with a fuse 800 kA in an inductive store. The current is diverted from the fuse to the primary of a single-turn transformer divided into quadrants. A total of 280 kV at 200 kA can then be applied to the plasma, which forms the secondary circuit of the transformer. This system produces dB/sub theta//dt's of up to 8 T/ $mu$s; with modifications to the electrical system, dB/sub theta//dt's as low as 0.1 T/$mu$s are obtained. The B/sub z/ bias field of up to 0.25 T can be reversed at a rate of up to 0.2 T/$mu$s. Both B/sub theta/ and B/sub z/ magnetic field errors are minimized. The design of the fuses and magnetic core and the development of a low inductance and resistance metal-to-metal crowbar are described. (auth)

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N.Mex. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• NSA Number: NSA-33-011710
• OSTI ID: 4132877
• Report Number(s): LA--6173-MS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*TOROIDAL PINCH DEVICES-- DESIGN
700200* --Fusion Energy--Fusion Power Plant Technology
ELECTRIC FUSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
N70800* --Physics--Controlled Thermonuclear Research-- Thermonuclear Engineering & Equipment
POWER SUPPLIES
TRANSFORMERS