Plasma erosion switches have been fielded on the PITHON generator during imploding plasma experiments. Theta pinch plasma guns were used to inject carbon plasmas of densities in the range of 1012–1014 cm3 between the electrodes of the vacuum power feed region, upstream from an imploding plasma load. Current monitors indicated that the erosion switches carried substantial current early in time, diverting it from the load. Late in the pulse the erosion switches opened, transferring the current to an imploding plasma with the effect of sharpening the current rise time at the load. Associated withthe sharper rise time was an improvement in the quality of the plasma implosions. The results of varying the density and total number of particles in the plasma of the switches are presented with regard to the effect on the current along the vacuum feed and on the behavior of vacuum flowing electrons.
Diversified Technologies, Inc. (DTI) has developed high power, solid-state Marx Bank designs for a range of accelerator and collider designs. We estimate the Marx topology can deliver equivalent performance to conventional designs, while reducing system costs by 25-50%.In this paper DTI will describe the application of Marx based technology to two different designs: a long-pulse ILC focused design (140 kV, 160 A, 1.5 ms), and a shortpulse design (500 kV, 265 A, 3 µs). These designs span the known requirements for future accelerator modulators. For the ILC design, the primary challenge is minimizing the overall size and cost of the storage capacitors in the modulator. For the short-pulse design, the primary challenge is high speed operation, to limit the energy lost in the pulse rise-time while providing a very tight (+/-3%) voltage flattop. Each design demands unique choices in components and controls, including the use of electrolytic capacitors in the ILC Marx design. This paper will review recent progress in the development and testing of both prototype Marx designs, built under two separate DOE Phase II SBIR grants.
The Next Generation Linear Collider (NLC) represents a significant challenge for high voltage modulator technology. The 3200 X-band klystrons that provide RF for the accelerator require 500kV, 265A, and pulses of 1-5µs. Given the large number of klystron modulators required, small improvements in modulator efficiency, reliability, and maintainability have significant life-cycle cost impacts.In 1999, Diversified Technologies, Inc. (DTI) was awarded three Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants from the Department of Energy to assess solid-state switching technology for NLC. These efforts are focused on three modulator configurations: a hybrid modulator, which uses a switch and a pulse transformer, a hard switch, and a Marx bank. This paper describes the architecture, trade-offs, and progress in the development of these solid-state designs, at approximately the midpoint in their development.
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