Tests of the first RITS PFL and cell

The Radiographic Integrated Test Stand (RITS) is designed to demonstrate a modular Inductive Voltage Adder accelerator architecture approach to high brightness flash radiography. Multiple, fast (10 ns) rise time, square (70 ns) 1.35-MV, 7.8-Ohm pulses are generated in parallel water dielectric pulse forming and shaping lines, then are added in series with induction cells to form a single high voltage drive pulse. The Metglas-core induction cell has a novel single point feed and tapered azimuthal transmission line to distribute the incoming pulse uniformly around the magnetically insulated vacuum bore of the cell without adding to the pulse rise time. The core induction cells are threaded with an inner vacuum coaxial electrode, which terminates in a high brightness electron beam diode where the bremsstrahlung radiographic source is generated. The first pulse forming line (PFL) and induction cell of the 12 planned for the full RITS facility have been fabricated, assembled and tested at Sandia National Laboratories. The results of these tests are presented and are compared to the design simulation predictions.