SHIVA phase II electromagnetic implosion research

The goal of the SHIVA program is to develop a high energy X-ray source for survivability/vulnerability testing purposes. The basic approach is to produce a high energy, high density plasma by imploding large radius thin foil cylinders in a vacuum. The foil is accelerated to a very high velocity by the J x B force that results when a high current is passed axially through the cylinder. The desired radiation source is produced when the foil collides with itself at the center of the implosion creating a high density, high temperature plasma which loses most of its energy in a short burst of X-rays. During Phase II of the SHIVA program, the basic SHIVA concept was investigated both theoretically and experimentally. One and two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic codes were used to theoretically determine the implosion characteristics and radiation output. The experimental feasibility of the SHIVA concept was studied by using a fast 250 kilojoule capacitor bank to drive the foil implosion.