Measurement of trigger and cascade section runtimes in 6 MV switches using fiber coupled photodetectors

Measurement of trigger and cascade section runtimes in 6 MV switches using fiber coupled photodetectors

Since October 2007 Sandia National Laboratories has operated the refurbished Z machine at an improved load current of 26 MA yielding 400 TW of x-ray power. The current pulse shape to the load is controlled by 36 independently timed laser triggered gas switches. As part of the refurbishment effort, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jens Schwarz, David Bliss, Joe Woodworth, Mark Savage, James Potter, Tom Avila, Stephen Ploor, Patrick Rambo, Briggs Atherton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2012-07-01
Series:Physical Review Special Topics. Accelerators and Beams
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.15.072802
Description
Summary:Since October 2007 Sandia National Laboratories has operated the refurbished Z machine at an improved load current of 26 MA yielding 400 TW of x-ray power. The current pulse shape to the load is controlled by 36 independently timed laser triggered gas switches. As part of the refurbishment effort, a fiber coupled laser spark detector system has been installed which is able to detect the laser generated plasma in situ inside the trigger section of the high voltage switch. In this paper we describe how this detection system can be used to characterize the discharge dynamics of these 5.9 MV, 820 kA switches.
ISSN:1098-4402

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