Z has been an engine of discovery, and even after 23 years of operation in its present configuration, scientists continue to set new facility performance records and to conduct novel experiments in each of these research areas. As such, Z is used for a wide range of high energy density (HED) physics experiments spanning radiation source development, radiation-driven science, dynamic material properties, magneto-inertial fusion (MIF), and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Plasmas can also be created that are very efficient radiators in the x-ray regime. This high electrical power, roughly 15 times the continuous electrical generating capacity of the entire world's power plants, can be used to compress matter to extreme pressures that greatly exceed 1 × 10 6 times atmospheric pressure (1 Mbar). Savage,Īn overview of pulsed compression and power flow in the upgraded Z pulsed power driver,” in 16th IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference (2007), Vol.Ģ, pp. the “Z” facility, which can store up to 22 MJ in its capacitor banks and discharge that energy in a 100-ns, linearly rising pulse with a peak electrical power of 80 TW and a peak current of up to 30 MA. Prestwich, “Įlectron and ion beam accelerators,” AIP Conf. The notes and lectures prepared by “Charlie” Martin and his co-workers at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (now the Atomic Weapons Establishment) in Aldermaston, Reading UK are a primer for modern experimental pulsed power. Kristiansen, Advances in Pulsed Power Technologies Vol.ġ996). “Charlie” Martin and his AWRE co-workers, J. Sandia operates the world's largest pulsed power accelerator, 1,2 1. This paper reviews the remarkable progress in high-current pulsed power research at Sandia National Laboratories over the past 15 years. Note: This paper is part of the Special Collection: Papers from the 61st Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics. G) Present address: University of Michigan, 500 S State St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. Box 1663, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.į) Present address: Northrop Grumman Corporation, Linthicum, Maryland 21090, USA. b) Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: Ĭ) Present address: University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 E River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA.ĭ) Present address: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA.Į) Present address: Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. 4 Voss Scientific, 418 Washington St., SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108, USAĪ)Invited speaker.
3 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA.2 Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C.Box 5800, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA