Starmark and Maxwell Systems Division have teamed to demonstrate the feasibility of using flux compression to achieve pulse sharpening and power compression in Next Generation Machines (NGMs) and to demonstrate that flux compression can be a simple, robust, efficient, and reliable means of doing so. Using flux compression for pulse sharpening on x-ray simulators promises potential savings of many tens of millions of dollars on NGMs.The objectives of the Phase I program are: (1) To assess the feasibility of various flux-compression design configurations for pulse sharpening of x-ray simulators, including inside-out coaxial sweeping-wave and helical-coil generators, as well as outside-in designs. (2) To integrate plasma stability analysis into the design evaluation and design optimization processes. (3) To systematize the process for optimizing flux-compression design parameters and implement the process to produce a conceptual design of an effective and efficient flux-compression generator and design options for an NGM.Anticipated products of the program include an assessment and conceptual designs of the most promising candidates for configurations and design options for flux-compression generators for NGMs. The Starmark/Maxwell team will work closely with DTRA to ensure that the program contributes to the major investment decisions that must be made in planning and designing NGMs. DTRA can realize huge cost savings on future x-ray simulators if flux compression will allow use of long-rise-time (250 - 500 ns) voltage pulses to achieve short (50 - 100 ns) implosion times of plasma radiation sources. Opportunities for application of flux-compression technology in the commercial arena include all high-power pulsed-power applications in which cost savings can be realized by building microsecond-pulse, moderate-voltage generators and using low-cost flux compression to sharpen the pulses and compress the power.
Keywords: Flux Compression, Pulsed Power, X-Ray Simulators, Next Generation Machines, Power Compression, Magne
