Power oscillator circuit modeling and redesign for the Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator II (PBFA-II) switch trigger laser
The energy output and reliability of the multi-joule, injection-locked KrF laser used to trigger the PBFA II accelerator gas switches were improved through modifications identified in modeling the Blumlein driver circuit for the power oscillator. A combination of the SCEPTRE network solver code and JASON electrostatic field code were used to model the laser pulse-forming circuit in its single-channel rail gap configuration and modified versions with three or five discrete switches across the 1.45 m wide water-insulated transmission line. Three regularly spaced trigatron spark gaps resulted in a more uniformly driven laser volume with lower variations in voltages (10%) and rise times (9%) along its length. With the new configuration over 3000 shots have been recorded without a single misfire compared to an average of approx.25 shots before a prefire with the original design. The gas mix and pressure had to be optimized to match a given driver pulse voltage and rise time to achieve maximum performance from the laser. We summarize the model results which led to our decision to change the Blumlein switch configuration.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6842568
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-86-1675C; CONF-870132-1; ON: DE87003774
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
ACCELERATORS
DESIGN
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
EXCIMER LASERS
GAS LASERS
KRYPTON FLUORIDE LASERS
LASERS
PARTICLE BEAM FUSION ACCELERATOR
POWER SUPPLIES
POWER TRANSMISSION
SWITCHES