Design and code validation of the Jupiter inductive voltage adder (IVA) PRS driver

The proposed Jupiter accelerator is a /spl sim/10 MV, 500 TW system capable of delivering 15 MJ kinetic energy to an imploding plasma radiation source. The accelerator is based on Hermes-III technology and contains 30 identical inductive voltage adder modules connected in parallel. The modules drive a common circular convolute electrode system in the center of which is located an imploding foil. The relatively high voltage of 8-10 MV is required to compensate for the voltage differential generated across the load due primarily to the fast increase in current (L dI/dt) and to lesser extent to the increasing inductance (I dL/dt) and resistive component of the imploding foil. Here, the authors examine the power flow through the device and, in particular, through the voltage adder and long magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL). Analytical models, such as pressure balance and parapotential flow, as well as circuit and PIC codes, were utilized. A new version of the TWOQUICK PIC code, which includes an imploding, cylindrical foil as load, was utilized to compare the power flow calculations done with SCREAMER and TRIFL. The good agreement adds confidence to the Jupiter design. In addition, an experimental validation of the design is under way this year with Hermes III. Long extension MITLs are connected at the end of the voltage adder with inductive and diode loads to benchmark the above design codes. In this paper, the authors outline the accelerator's conceptual design with emphasis on the power flow and coupling to the inductive load and include preliminary results of Hermes-III experimental design validation.