Prototype 4-stage 60-GW impedance-matched Marx generator: design, simulations, and performance

ORAL

Abstract

We have designed, assembled, and tested a prototype 4-stage 60-GW coaxial impedance-matched Marx generator (IMG) [1-3]. Each stage is powered by two LCR circuits, which are referred to as “bricks.” Each brick comprises two 100-kV 160-nF capacitors connected in series with a single 200-kV field-distortion gas switch. The IMG performs as predicted theoretically: simulated and measured load-power time histories agree to within experimental uncertainties. A system of IMGs is an attractive candidate prime-power source for next-generation pulsed-power accelerators. We have designed an IMG-powered accelerator that could deliver as much as 90 MA to a physics load. Such a machine would achieve thermonuclear-fusion yields as high as 1 – 10 GJ, and revolutionize high-energy-density-physics experiments in support of the national-security mission.

[1] W. A. Stygar, K. R. LeChien, M. G. Mazarakis et al., Impedance-matched Marx generators, Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 20, 040402 (2017).

[2] K. R. LeChien, W. A. Stygar, M. G. Anderson et al., Sirius I: prototype of a prime-power source for future 1 - 10 GJ fusion-yield experiments, LLNL Report LLNL-TR-846570 (2023).

[3] M. G. Anderson, K. R. LeChien, W. A. Stygar et al., Sirius I Prototype: A Prime-Power Source for Future 1 – 10 GJ Fusion-Yield Experiments, 2023 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference (2023).

*Prepared by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

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Presenters

  • William A Stygar

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Authors

  • William A Stygar

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Keith R LeChien

    • Pacific Fusion

  • Michael G Anderson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Kumar S. Raman

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Andrea Elizabeth Schmidt

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Don A Max

    • Mission Support and Test Services

  • Cuyler B Beatty

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Enrique M Anaya

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • LLNL

  • Alvin S Anquillano

    • General Atomics Energy Group

  • Tom Arsenlis

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Andrew M Benson

    • General Atomics Energy Group

  • Robert E Beverly

    • R. E. Beverly III and Associates

  • Kurt J Boehm

    • General Atomics Energy Group

  • Ron S Chaffee

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • John E Cortes

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • William A Drews

    • General Atomics Energy Group

  • Michael J Edwards

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jennifer L Ellsworth

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jonathan G Fry

    • Pacific Fusion

  • Ashish K Gaikwad

    • CSI Technologies

  • Thomas C Genoni

    • Voss Scientific

  • Gary P Grim

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Kirk T Hadley

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • James Henry Hammer

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Mark C Herrmann

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Fred A Howland

    • Pacific Fusion

  • Trevor M Hutchinson

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jay B Javedani

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Anthony J Johnson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Ben J Kelsall

    • MuEpsln

  • Patrick F Knapp

    • Pacific Fusion

  • Anthony J. Link

    • Pacific Fusion
    • Pacific Fusion Corporation
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Nathan B Meezan

    • Pacifc Fusion
    • Pacific Fusion
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Caleb A Mostrom

    • Voss Scientific

  • Chris B Mostrom

    • Voss Scientific

  • David B Norton

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Dustin T Offermann

    • Voss Scientific

  • Ioana Paraschiv

    • Voss Scientific
    • Voss Scientific, LLC

  • Dave V Rose

    • Pacific Fusion

  • Alex M Russell

    • Voss Scientific

  • Eric B Smith

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Narendra C Soni

    • CSI Technologies

  • Ronnie D Speer

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • R. B Spielman

    • U. of Rochester
    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics

  • Carsten H Thoma

    • Voss Scientific

  • Richard P Town

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jacob J Trueblood

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Kurt K Tummel

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Eric D Watson

    • Voss Scientific

  • James A Watson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Dale R Welch

    • Voss Scientific
    • Voss Scientific, LLC

  • Adam D White

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Andrew J Young

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Alex Zylstra

    • Pacific Fusion
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab