X-Pinch Experiments Driven by a Compact Marx Generator

Experiments are underway on an X-pinch driven by a 4-stage compact Marx generator with pulse-sharpening switch at the following design parameters: peak voltage $\sim $ 160-400 kV, current $\sim $ 20-50 kA, and 10-90{\%} risetime $\sim $170 ns. Diagnostics include ultraviolet emission spectroscopy, resonant laser shadowgraphy, soft x-ray PIN diodes, and Rogowski coils. Initial ultraviolet emission spectroscopy experiments have measured Al line emission during 30.3-micron-wire explosions at $\sim $ 20 kA peak current. \newline \newline * This work was supported by U. S. DoE through Sandia National Laboratories award number 240985 to the University of Michigan. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. T. S. Strickler was supported by the National Physical Sciences Consortium Graduate Fellowship in the Physical Sciences.