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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

The PTO linear induction accelerator

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6332295
The PTO accelerator is a test-bed for the study of issues involved in the development of compact, repetitive, high-duty cycle, linear induction accelerators (LIA). The need for multi-microsecond pulse lengths is incompatible with compact ferrite size. Therefore, a long burst of short pulses with a 100% voltage reversal and a 50% duty cycle was chosen as the operating mode of PTO. The 100% voltage pulse reversals between accelerating pulses reset the magnetic cores, allowing a compact ferrite size. PTO will consist of an 800-kV injector to generate an electron beam (approx.1 kA) and two 200-kV induction cavities to accelerate the beam. Two different operational modes will be implemented. The first (Drive Mode 1) is a short burst (three pulses) of high frequency (20-MHz) bipolar square waves to study diode beam dynamics and to characterize accelerating cavity behavior. Drive Mode 2 will be a multi-microsecond ringing waveform (with greater impulse spacing) that will alternately saturate the cores in each polarity. The driving mechanism will facilitate the study of plasma closure rates in the diode and accelerating gaps. The pulsed power and cavity designs will be presented.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6332295
Report Number(s):
SAND-87-0314C; CONF-870656-12; ON: DE87011723
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English