Hydrodynamic Liner Experiments Using the Ranchero Flux Compression Generator System
Abstract
At Los Alamos, we investigate solid density materials under extreme conditions of high pressure or strain. To further these studies, we develop pulsed power techniques for driving high energy imploding liners. We have developed the Ranchero explosive-driven magnetic flux compression generator (FCG) system to perform such experiments at very high energy, in remote locations. Our first charter is to support the development of the Atlas capacitor bank [1] which, when completed in 2001, will deliver up to 30 MA to hydrodynamic liners. The basic unit of the Ranchero system is a 1.4 m long coaxial FCG that is simultaneously initiated along its axis and has an armature expansion ratio of 2:1. We performed initial system tests using 43 cm long [2,3] coaxial modules and are finalizing the design and development of our 1.4 m detonation system. This development, which met with unexpected difficulties, is the subject of another paper in this conference [4]. The 43cm module combined with the 2.4 MJ capacitor bank at our high explosive pulsed power facility has the capability of delivering ~40 MA to a load of ~5 nH. Coupled with a fuse opening switch (FOS), the system will generate a good approximation of Atlas waveforms with 5 nH in the load and transmission lines. This allows us to begin preliminary Atlas related tests before the 1.4 m module is completed. Herein is described our efforts to develop the capability and the design of our first imploding liner experiment.
- Publication:
-
Megagauss Magnetic Field Generation, Its Application to Science and Ultra-High Pulsed-Power Technology
- Pub Date:
- November 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1142/9789812702517_0102
- Bibcode:
- 2004mmfg.conf..485G