Improvements in synchronization of the PBFA-II accelerator with laser-triggered gas switches
PBFA II is a 36-module ion accelerator built by Sandia National Laboratories for inertial confinement fusion studies. In the water-filled, pulse-forming section of the accelerator, each module is fitted with a 5.0-MV, SF/sub 6/-filled gas switch located between an intermediate storage capacitor and the first pulse forming line. The intermediate storage capacitor is charged to 4.8-5.0 MV in approximately 950 ns by a Marx generator located in the oil section of the machine. The gas switch is required to close on command and transfer the stored capacitor energy to Line 1, a coaxial transmission line of 100 ns two-way electrical length. The switches are triggered by a single 3.0-J KrF laser located under the accelerator; a complex beam-splitting/distribution system is used to deliver 20-40 mJ, 35 ns FWHM beamlets to the individual switches. In order to properly drive the experimental load on PBFA II, equal-amplitude pulses must be produced by each pulse-forming line with a module-to-module first-to-last timing difference (spread) of less than 20 ns. The gas switch, the last command-triggered point in the module, is the major determinant of total machine synchrony. To compensate for the additional (<3 ns) rms jitter of three sets of self-breaking water switches downstream of the gas switches, first-to-last timing spread of the 36 gas switches must be less than 15 ns. 5 refs., 6 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6089981
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-88-3238C; CONF-890665-8; ON: DE89013067
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
ACCELERATORS
BEAM SPLITTING
CONFINEMENT
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
EXCIMER LASERS
GAS LASERS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
KRYPTON FLUORIDE LASERS
LASERS
MODIFICATIONS
PARTICLE BEAM FUSION ACCELERATOR
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA SWITCHES
SWITCHES
SYNCHRONIZATION