Experimental simulation of the energy parameters of the "Atlas" capacitor bank using a disk explosive-magnetic generator

A joint US/Russian Advanced Liner Technology experiment ALT-1 was conducted to simulate the anticipated performance of the Atlas capacitor bank. A disk-explosive magnetic generator and foil opening switch were used to produce an electrical current waveform that reached a peak value of 32.5 MA and that imploded an aluminum liner to an inner surface velocity of 12 km/s.

I. INTRODUCTION

The High Energy Density Hydrodynamics Program at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has constructed the Atlas capacitor bank to drive the magnetic implosion of cylindrical condensed metal liners in order to obtain high-temperature and high-pressure experimental environments. The Institute of Experimental Physics (VNIIEF) has developed notable pulsed power systems based on a multi-element disk explosive-magnetic generator (DEMG) of 40 cm diameter with electrically exploded copper foil current opening switch (FOS). Liner experiments with such a device have been conducted at a maximum current up to 35 MA [1], however, the liner current rise time was half of that required for liner experiments modeling the ATLAS facility. Therefore, VNIIEF developed a new experimental device, providing the current maximum within the range of 25 MA to 35 MA at the current rise time in the interval from 3.5 to 4.5 in a liner load representative of ATLAS facility. This paper reports on the results of the first experiment realized with such a device (ALT-I) on 03 November 1999.