High current experiments with Ranchero explosive pulsed power generators

Summary form only given, as follows. At Los Alamos, we are developing the Ranchero high explosive pulsed power system. The principle component of this system is a coaxial generator with its armature detonated simultaneously along its axis. The armature expands a factor of two, and sweeps out 139 nH/m in ∼27 μs. Detonation systems 0.43 m and 1.4 m long have been used in experiments, and a system 0.76-cm long is now available. Although experiments to date have been limited to ∼50 MA, single modules should be able to operate at currents near 90 MA in the current configuration, and could be expanded to allow currents of greater than 100 MA with little trouble. Multiple module designs could carry currents in the range of a few hundred MA. Recent focus has been on experiments in the range of 30 MA. We will describe our recent tests with 1.4 m generators, which include a generator test with static load at 34 MA, and a complete system test using a fuse opening switch to provide pulse shaping to drive a hydrodynamic liner load. Finally, we will provide system-scaling information.