RESULTS OF INITIAL TESTING OF THE FOUR STAGE RHEPP ACCELERATOR

D.L Johnson,G.J Weber,H.C Harjes,K.W Reed,K.J Penn,C.R Mcclenahan,G.E Laderach

doi:10.1109/ppc.1993.513368

Abstract

The low power checkout of the Repetitive High Energy Pulsed Power (RHEPP) pulse forming line (PFL) and linear induction voltage adder (LIVA) is complete. The accelerator has four LIVA cavities driven via coaxial cables from the PFL that utilizes magnetic switching to provide a 250-kV, 60-ns output pulse. The PFL is repetitively charged by a ten stage Marx generator to operate from single shot to five Hz. Results from these tests of the initial four stage RHEPP accelerator are presented and compared with design simulations. Data from a resistive cavity load and from preliminary electron diode experiments are included. While core temperatures remain low during five Hz operation, they are monitored and compared to extrapolated predictions from the design modeling. Performance of the Metglas magnetic switches and blocking cores, the voltage addition in the four LIVA cavities, and system efficiencies are discussed. Sources of discrepancies from the original design models are identified, and improved models that account for the discrepancies are presented. Improved performance potential based on these models is discussed. Plans for future testing of the 1-MV system up to 120 kW at 120 Hz and for the full system with ten LIVA cavities are presented.

Highlights

Power (RHEPP) pulse forming line (PFL) and linear induction The low power checkout of the Repetitive High Energy Pulsed vohage adder (LIVA) is complete
The experiments showed that 20 amps of bias on the PFL is sufficient and that no bias is required for the LIVA
The fact that very little bias is required for the PFL and no bias is required for the LIVA represents an enormous simplification of the hardware with concAomviatarinetty soavf inlogasdsinhacvoest baenedn etfefsitceidencoyn. the 1-MV LIVA including a 25-f2 resistive load, an ion diode [15] and an electron beam diode