Five to 10 MA experiments using flat plate explosive generators

High explosive pulsed power (HEPP) techniques can address a wide range of pulsed power needs. The basis for HEPP techniques is the use of high explosives to reduce the inductance of a current-carrying circuit, thus multiplying the current due to magnetic flux conservation. For the past twenty years at Los Alamos, the authors´ high energy density physics (HEDP) program has followed a path leading to more sophisticated and higher current (and often power) systems. Twenty years ago, they had the capability of conducting tests at 10, or even 30 MA, with no power conditioning and low inductance loads. The time scale of the experiment was the time it took to compress the flux explosively, and their fastest generator with high current capability was a plate generator. The operating time of the generator is less than 15 /spl mu/s, and flux loading requires either an additional /spl sim/60 /spl mu/s or a reduced-efficiency inductive coupling scheme. They could also deliver shortened pulses to select loads by completing their generator circuit, initially, with a relatively high inductance circuit element, then switching in a lower inductance with 2-3 /spl mu/s left of the generator pulse.