Concepts for an affordable high current imploding plasma generator

Abstract

The development of plasma loads with implosion times approaching 250 ns allows consideration of simpler pulsed power circuits. This paper reviews various Marx generator based technologies for driving imploding plasma loads at very high current (I>20 MA) and presents conceptual sketches of three concepts. The concepts presented require development of a low inductance Marx generator which would use adaptations of existing component technology to achieve high speed. These Marx driven circuits will deliver 3 MJ of kinetic energy to the imploding plasma load.