Foil-flyer electro-magnetic accelerator initial results from a new AWE pulsed power generator

An experimental programme, leading to the development of a foil-flyer electromagnetic accelerator (FFEMA), is being conducted at AWE. A high current pulsed power generator driving a foil-flyer is used to provide tailored impulse profiles into targets for testing material properties at high strain rates. This work has required the design and construction of both an experimental platform to conduct the experiments, named AMPERE, as well as the development of a number of computer models to predict the electrical and mechanical performance of the foil-flyer and its interaction with a target.