Pulsed Power Sciences at Sandia National Laboratories - The Next Generation

Summary form only given. The Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator (PBFA II) began operation in 1985 and was converted into the Z facility in 1996. The Z refurbishment project began five years ago, driven by the need for more capacity (the ability to perform more experiments), improved precision (more precise pulse shaping, longer pulses, and reduced jitter), and more capability (higher energy delivered to the load and better diagnostic access). Over the past year, the Z facility was completely-dismantled and rebuilt employing new pulsed power designs and all new components within the same basic 36 module architecture. With the completion of this project in midsummer 2007, the pulsed power sciences program at Sandia will work with many scientific collaborators at other institutions to apply this new capability to the study of many areas of high energy density physics, including z-pinch driven inertial confinement fusion, dynamic material properties, and radiation hydrodynamics. While the recent science and engineering of pulsed power was focused on the refurbished components within Z and developing advanced radiographic capabilities, discovery and innovation in the fundamental architecture of pulsed power systems has made significant advances. This presentation will summarize recent and planned high energy density physics research on the Z facility, the Z-Refurbishment project, advances in high-photon-energy radiography, derivative applications that have come from the pulsed power program, and advances in the science of pulsed power that may revolutionize the next-generation facilities.