Caballero: a high current flux compressor system for 100 MJ solid liner experiments

Pulse power systems delivering in excess of 100 MJ represent one of the next major challenges to the pulse power community. Explosive pulse power systems using magnetic flux compression provide a direct path to such demonstrations. Furthermore, as energy requirements grow, single use explosive systems may represent the only affordable source of ultra-high energy environments. Currently two flux compressor configurations are under consideration for powering solid liner implosions at currents above 100 MA and at energies above 100 MJ. A simultaneously initiated coaxial flux compressor (Ranchero) is described in a companion paper. A modular, center initiated disk configuration, generally patterned after the DEMG is the other candidate. Either can drive loads directly or can conceptually be connected in parallel with flat plate transmission lines to increase current delivery. Phenomenological models and conceptual designs for DEMG systems have been previously reported. In this paper we report the results of the experimental test of a first generation disk generator system. Individual disk segments have been tested with framing camera diagnostics to evaluate overall performance, dynamics and fabrication failure points. In general no bulk failures were observed in several shots and the critical weld joints maintained their integrity for at least 4 /spl mu/s after arrival of the detonation front. Single module pulse power experiments have been conducted at reduced initial current (1.5-2.0 MA) with a fixed inductance load of 0.22 nH.