Experiments with the 0.6-MA LTD-III accelerator cavity

We are performing experiments with a 100 kV, 600 kA, 60 GW Linear Transformer Driver cavity. This cavity generates a -100 ns power pulse from DC-charged capacitors in a single step. Our experiments started with an existing 100-kV, 490 kA LTD cavity and are making a number of improvements to it that are aimed at increasing the cavity´s peak output power and better understanding its operation. We are making improvements to the gas switches, the capacitors, and the magnetic toroids as well as heavily instrumenting the cavity. Initial experiments with improved switches and capacitors have increased the cavity´s output power by 25%.