Speaker
Description
In this presentation we describe the design, simulation and performance of a 118-GW linear transformer driver (LTD) cavity at Sandia National Laboratories. The cavity consists of 20 to 24 ``bricks''. Each brick is comprised of two 80 nF, 100 kV capacitors connected electrically in series with a custom, 200 kV, three-electrode, field-distortion gas switch. The brick capacitors are bi-polar charged to a total of 200 kV. Typical brick circuit parameters are 40 nF capacitance (two 80 nF capacitors in series) and 160 nH inductance. The switch electrodes are fabricated from a WCu alloy and are operated with breathable air. Over the course of over 10,000 shots the cavity generated a peak electrical current and power of 1.19 MA and 118 GW. Experimental results are consistent (to within uncertainties) with circuit simulations for normal operation, and expected failure modes including pre-fire and late-fire events. New features of this development that will be presented include: high-impedance solid charging resistors that are optimized for this application and evaluation of maintenance-free trigger circuits using capacitive coupling and inductive isolation.
