W.L. Waldron

Upgrades to the Darht Second Axis Induction Cells

The Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamics Test (DARHT) facility will employ two perpendicular electron Linear Induction Accelerators to produce intense, bremsstrahlung x-ray pulses for flash radiography. The second axis, DARHT II [1], features a 3-MeV, 2-kA injector and a 15-MeV, 1.6-microsecond accelerator consisting of 74 induction cells and drivers. Major induction cell components include high flux swing magnetic material (Metglas 2605 SC) and a Mycalextrade insulator. The cell drivers are pulse forming networks (PFNs). The DARHT II accelerator cells have undergone a series of test and modeling efforts to fully understand their operational parameters. These R&D efforts have identified problems in the original cell design and means to upgrade the design, performance and reliability of the linear induction cells. Physical changes in the cell oil region, the cell vacuum region, and the cell drivers, together with different operational and maintenance procedures, have been implemented in the prototype units resulting in greatly enhanced cell performance and reliability. A series of prototype acceptance tests have demonstrated that the required cell reliability and lifetime is exceeded at the increased performance levels. Shortcomings of the original design are summarized and improvements to the design, their resultant enhancement in performance, and various test results are discussed.

Modeling the pulse line ion accelerator (PLIA): an algorithm for quasi-static field solution

The pulse-line ion accelerator (PLIA) is a helical distributed transmission line. A rising pulse applied to the upstream end appears as a moving spatial voltage ramp, on which an ion pulse can be accelerated. This is a promising approach to acceleration and longitudinal compression of an ion beam at high line charge density. In most of the studies carried out to date, using both a simple code for longitudinal beam dynamics and the Warp PIC code, a circuit model for the wave behavior was employed; in Warp, the helix I and V are source terms in elliptic equations for E and B. However, it appears possible to obtain improved fidelity using a sheath helix model in the quasi-static limit. Here we describe an algorithmic approach that may be used to effect such a solution.

Upgrades to the DARHT second axis induction cells

The Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamics Test (DARHT) facility will employ two perpendicular electron Linear Induction Accelerators to produce intense, bremsstrahlung x-ray pulses for flash radiography. The second axis, DARHT II [1], features a 3-MeV, 2-kA injector and a 15-MeV, 1.6-microsecond accelerator consisting of 74 induction cells and drivers. Major induction cell components include high flux swing magnetic material (Metglas 2605 SC) and a Mycalextrade insulator. The cell drivers are pulse forming networks (PFNs). The DARHT II accelerator cells have undergone a series of test and modeling efforts to fully understand their operational parameters. These R&D efforts have identified problems in the original cell design and means to upgrade the design, performance and reliability of the linear induction cells. Physical changes in the cell oil region, the cell vacuum region, and the cell drivers, together with different operational and maintenance procedures, have been implemented in the prototype units resulting in greatly enhanced cell performance and reliability. A series of prototype acceptance tests have demonstrated that the required cell reliability and lifetime is exceeded at the increased performance levels. Shortcomings of the original design are summarized and improvements to the design, their resultant enhancement in performance, and various test results are discussed.

R+ D Progress Towards a Diffraction Limited Upgrade of the ALS

Author(s): Steier, C; Anders, A; Byrd, J; Chow, K; Duarte, R; Jung, J; Luo, T; Nishimura, H; Oliver, T; Osborn, J; Padmore, H; Pappas, C; Robin, D; Sannibale, F; De Santis, S; Schlueter, R; Sun, C; Swenson, C; Venturini, M; Waldron, W; Wallen, E; Wan, W; Yang, Y | Abstract: Copyright

HEAVY ION FUSION SCIENCE VIRTUALNATIONAL LABORATORY 2nd QUARTER 2009 MILESTONE REPORT: Perform beam and target experiments with a new induction bunching module, extended FEPS plasma, and improved target diagnostic and positioning equipment on NDCX

This effort contains two main components: The new induction-bunching module is expected to deliver higher fluence in the bunched beam, and the new target positioner will enable a significantly enhanced target physics repetition rate. The velocity ramp that bunches the K{sup +} beam in the neutralized drift compression section is established with a bipolar voltage ramp applied to an acceleration gap. An induction acceleration module creates this voltage waveform. The new bunching module (IBM) specially built for NDCX has approximately twice the capability (volt-seconds) as our original IBM. We reported on the beam line design for the best use of the bunching module in our FY08 Q2 report. Based on simulations and theoretical work, we chose to extend the drift compression section and use the additional volt-seconds to extend the pulse duration and keep the peak voltage swing (and velocity excursions) similar to the present module. Simulations showed that this approach, which extends the drift section, to be advantageous because it limits the chromatic aberrations in the beam spot on target. To this end, colleagues at PPPL have fabricated the meter-long extension to the ferroelectric plasma source and it was installed on the beam line with the new IBM inmorexa0» January 2009. Simulation results suggest a factor of two increase in energy deposition from the bunched beam. In the first WDM target run (August-November 2008) the target handling setup required opening the vacuum system to manually replace the target after each shot (which destroys the target). Because of the requirement for careful alignment of each individual target, the target shot repetition rate was no greater than 1 shot per day. Initial results of this run are reported in our FY08 4th Quarter Milestone Report. Based on the valuable experience gained in the initial run, we have designed and installed an improved target alignment and positioning system with the capability to reposition targets remotely. This capability allows us to significantly increase our shot repetition rate, and to take greater advantage of the pinhole/cone arrangement we have developed to localize the beam at final focus. In addition we have improved the capability of the optical diagnostic systems, and we have installed a new beam current transformer downstream of the target to monitor beam current transmitted through the target during an experiment. These improvements will allow us to better exploit the inherent capability of the NDCX facility for high repetition rate and thus to provide more detailed experimental data to assess WDM physics models of target behavior. This milestone has been met by demonstrating highly compressed beams with the new bunching module, which are neutralized in the longer drift compression section by the new ferro-electric plasma sources. The peak uncompressed beam intensity ({approx}600 kW/cm{sup 2}) is higher than in previous measurements, and the bunched beam current profiles are {approx}2ns. We have also demonstrated a large increase in the experimental data acquisition rate for target heating experiments. In the first test of the new remote-controlled target positioning system, we completed three successful target physics shots in less than two hours. Further improvements are expected.«xa0less

DARHT 2 kA Cathode Development

HIFAN-1698 DARHT 2 kA Cathode Development F. M. Bieniosek1, E. Henestroza1, T. Houck2, J.W. Kwan 1, M. Leitner1, G. Miram4, B. Prichard3, P.K. Roy1, W. Waldron1, G. Westenskow2, S. Yu4 1LBNL, 2 LLNL, 3SAIC, 4Retired Accelerator Fusion Research Division Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory University of California Berkeley, California 94720 March 2009 This work was supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02- 05CH11231.

HEAVY ION FUSION SCIENCE VIRTUAL NATIONAL LABORATORY 3nd QUARTER 2009 MILESTONE REPORT: Upgrade plasma source configuration and carry out initial experiments. Characterize improvements in focal spot beam intensity

HIFAN 1757 HEAVY ION FUSION SCIENCE VIRTUAL NATIONAL LABORATORY, 3rd QUARTER 2009 MILESTONE REPORT, Upgrade plasma source configuration and carry out initial experiments. Characterize improvements in focal spot beam intensity by S. Lidia, A. Anders, F.M. Bieniosek, A. Faltens, W. Greenway, J.Y. Jung, T. Katayanagi, B.G. Logan, C.W. Lee, M. Leitner, P. Ni, A. Pekedis, M. J. Regis, P. K. Roy, P. A. Seidl, W. Waldron Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA J.J. Barnard, A. Friedman, D. Grote, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA M. Dorf, E. Gilson Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Accelerator Fusion Research Division Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory University of California June 2009 This work was supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

Use beam steering dipoles to minimize aberrations associated with off-centered transit through the induction bunching module. Design an improved NDCX-I drift compression section to make best use of the new bunching module to optimize planned initial NDCX-I target experiments

This milestone has been met by: (1) calculating steering solutions and implementing them in the experiment using the three pairs of crossed magnetic dipoles installed in between the matching solenoids, S1-S4. We have demonstrated the ability to center the beam position and angle to<1 mm and<1 mrad upstream of the induction bunching module (IBM) gap, compared to uncorrected beam offsets of several millimeters and milli-radians. (2) Based on LSP and analytic study, the new IBM, which has twice the volt-seconds of our first IBM, should be accompanied by a longer drift compression section in order to achieve a predicted doubling of the energy deposition on future warm-dense matter targets. This will be accomplished by constructing a longer ferro-electric plasma source. (3) Because the bunched current is a function of the longitudinal phase space and emittance of the beam entering the IBM we have characterized the longitudinal phase space with a high-resolution energy analyzer.

Complete fabrication of target experimental chamber and implement initial target diagnostics to be used for the first target experiments in NDCX-1

The Heavy Ion Fusion Science Virtual National Laboratory (HIFS-VNL) has completed the fabrication of a new experimental target chamber facility for future Warm Dense Matter (WDM) experiments, and implemented initial target diagnostics to be used for the first target experiments in NDCX-1. The target chamber has been installed on the NDCX-I beamline. This achievement provides to the HIFS-VNL unique and state-of-the-art experimental capabilities in preparation for the planned target heating experiments using intense heavy ion beams.

DARHT-II Injector Transients and the Ferrite Damper

This report summarizes the transient response of the DARHT-II Injector and the design of the ferrite damper. Initial commissioning of the injector revealed a rise time excited 7.8 MHz oscillation on the diode voltage and stalk current leading to a 7.8 MHz modulation of the beam current, position, and energy. Commissioning also revealed that the use of the crowbar to decrease the voltage fall time excited a spectrum of radio frequency modes which caused concern that there might be significant transient RF electric field stresses imposed on the high voltage column insulators. Based on the experience of damping the induction cell RF modes with ferrite, the concept of a ferrite damper was developed to address the crowbar-excited oscillations as well as the rise-time-excited 7.8 MHz oscillations. After the Project decided to discontinue the use of the crowbar, further development of the concept focused exclusively on damping the oscillations excited by the rise time. The design was completed and the ferrite damper was installed in the DARHT-II Injector in February 2006. The organization of this report is as follows. The suite of injector diagnostics are described in Section 2. The data and modeling of the injector transients excited on the rise-timemorexa0» and also by the crowbar are discussed in Section 3; the objective is a concise summary of the present state of understanding. The design of the ferrite damper, and the small scale circuit simulations used to evaluate the ferrite material options and select the key design parameters like the cross sectional area and the optimum gap width, are presented in Section 4. The details of the mechanical design and the installation of the ferrite damper are covered in Section 5. A brief summary of the performance of the ferrite damper following its installation in the injector is presented in Section 6.«xa0less