Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Liner velocity, current, and symmetry measurements on the 32 MEGAMP flux compression generator experiment ALT-1

Conference ·
OSTI ID:975682

A flux compression generator pulse power system, designed, built, and fielded by a Russian team at the All Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics (VNIIEF), was used to successfully drive an aluminum liner to velocities greater than 12 km/sec. The experiment objective was to demonstrate performance of a precision liner implosion at an Atlas current of 30 MA or greater. Diagnostics to measure liner performance were an essential part of the experiment. An experimental team from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) provided a suite of diagnostics to measure liner performance. Three diagnostics were fielded: (1) A velocity interferometer (VISAR) to continuously measure the liner innersurface velocity throughout the entire range of travel, (2) Two Faraday rotation devices to measure liner current during the implosion, and, (3) Sixteen fiber optic impact pins to record liner impact time and provide axial and azimuthal symmetry information. All diagnostics performed very well. Major results are maximum current: 32.3 MA, velocity at impact: greater than 12 km/sec, symmetry: the impact pins indicated that the liner was smooth, solid, and axially symmetric upon arrival at the diagnostic package. The LANL team fabricated, installed, and recorded the three diagnostics presented here. All necessary equipment was brought to the site in Russia. The VNIIEF team fielded other diagnostics to measure machine performance. Results of machine diagnostics are reported in other presentations.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE
OSTI ID:
975682
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-01-4468
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

ALT-3 target design and simulations
Conference · Tue Jan 11 23:00:00 EST 2011 · OSTI ID:1046555

Liner Stability Experiments at Pegasus: Diagnostics and Experimental Results
Conference · Sun Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 1998 · OSTI ID:759334

High energy imploding liner experiment HEL-1: Experimental results
Conference · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997 · OSTI ID:522723