High voltage power condition systems powered by flux compression generators

Abstract

Compact, high-gain magnetic flux compressors (FCGs) are convenient sources of substantial energy for plasma-physics and electron-beam-physics experiments, but the need for high voltage, fast-rising pulses is difficult to meet directly with conventional generators. While a variety of novel concepts employing simultaneous, axially-detonated explosive systems are under development, power-conditioning systems based on fuse opening switches and high-voltage transformers constitute an approach that complements the fundamental size, weight, and configuration of small helical flux compressors. In this paper, we consider, first, a basic inductive store/opening switch circuit and the implications associated with, specifically, a fuse opening switch and an FCG energy source. We develop a general solution to a transformer/opening switch circuit which also includes (as a special case) the direct inductive store/opening switch circuit (without transformer) and we report results of one elementary experiment demonstrating the feasibility of the approach.