INVESTIGATIONOF THE SELFMAGNETIC PINCHDIODEON PIMASA RADIOGRAPHICSOURCE

PIM's10Q waterfilled Blumlein generates a1.5MV, 100nsoutput pulseandisswitched bytwoLaser PIMisawater filled Blumlein connected, inparallel, to Triggered SF6GasSwitches (LTGS)inparallel. A Preoneortwo1.5MV, cavities whichinductively add Pulse Reduction System (PPRS)[3]wasinstalled onthe voltage on a highimpedance (100Ohm) vacuum Blumlein output toreduce thepre-pulse by100.The transmission line.A self-magnetic pinchconfigured Blumlein drives twoinductive cells producing avoltage diodewastested onthis1-3MV IVApulsepower gainbyinductive addition withanassociated reduction in machine andaninvestigation into theperformance ofthisvacuumstalk current. radiographic diodewasmadeusingsimplehollow cathodes witha plane, grounded anodeconfiguration. Thetapered, highimpedance, vacuumstalk threading Timedependant resolution ofthetotal radiation obtainedthecavities wasmadefromaffordable components and anda 2.5mm diameter (AWE defined) source was notmatched tothelowimpedance ofthepinch diodes or demonstrated. Closing either oneortwoofthePFL theBlumlein driver. Themachine wasunder-run with switches onPIMwasusedtoinvestigate theeffects ofrise1.2MVontheBlumlein, whichensured reliable machine timeandpeakvoltage onthediode. operation throughout theself-magnetic pinch(SMP) diodeinvestigation without pulsedpowerproblems effecting thediode operation.