Terawatts and nanoseconds—Metallic glasses in pulse power systems

Abstract

Amorphous ferromagnetic alloys are finding an increased number of applications in high energy pulse power systems to drive accelerators and lasers. These materials, which have high saturation induction and high resistivity in a thin, strong, ribbon form, offer important advantages over conventional magnetic materials. This paper reviews the important characteristics of amorphous magnetic materials used at high magnetization rates in pulse power systems. The concepts of pulse power and of pulse compression by saturable magnetic inductors are outlined. Finally, both research devices and potential commercial applications utilizing magnetic amorphous alloys are discussed. Pulse power devices based on METGLAS®1 alloy ribbons have already reached peak output power levels of multi-terawatts TW and produced pulses shorter than 100 nanoseconds ns.