Mixed Electron Emission from Lead Zirconate-Titanate Ceramics

Simultaneous ferroelectric and plasma emission from Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 was observed with only a negative driving pulse applied to the sample, and without an extraction potential on the electron collector. Plasma emission was a strong, inconsistent, and self-destructive process. In addition, a positive ion current was detected. Comparatively, ferroelectric emission was a relatively stable self-emission process, exhibiting no apparent delay time, and no positive ion current. The relationship between the switching and emission current of ferroelectric samples measured simultaneously cannot only be used to determine the existence of ferroelectric emission, but can also give direction to choosing suitable ferroelectric materials for emitter applications

Multilayer ultra high gradient insulator technology

We are investigating a novel insulator concept which involves the use of alternating layers of conductors and insulators with periods less than 1 mm. These structures perform many times better (about 1.5 to 4 times higher breakdown electric field) than conventional insulators in long pulse, short pulse, and alternating polarity applications. We present our ongoing studies investigating the degradation of the breakdown electric field resulting from surface roughness, the effect of gas pressure, and the performance of the insulator structure under bi-polar stress. Further, we present our initial modeling studies

Investigation of Vacuum Insulator Surface Dielectric Strength with Nanosecond Pulses

The maximum vacuum insulator surface dielectric strength determines the acceleration electric field gradient possible in a short pulse accelerator. Previous work has indicated that higher electric field strengths along the insulator-vacuum interface might be obtained as the pulse duration is decreased. In this work, a 250 kV, single ns wide impulse source was applied to small diameter, segmented insulators samples in a vacuum to evaluate the multi-layer surface dielectric strength of the sample construction. Resonances in the low inductance test geometry were used to obtain unipolar, pulsed electric fields in excess of 100 MV/m on the insulator surface. The sample construction, experimental arrangement and experimental results are presented for the initial data in this work. Modeling of the multi-layer structure is discussed and methods of improving insulator surface dielectric strength in a vacuum are proposed

FERRITE-FREE, OIL-SWITCHED, FOUR-STAGE, HIGH-GRADIENT MODULE FOR COMPACT PULSED POWER APPLICATIONS

We describe the design and present initial experimental results of a novel, high-gradient, compact pulsed power module. Our application focus is linear accelerators but our technology is easily applicable to a wide range of pulse-power applications. Our design incorporates and combines for the first time a number of our recently developed, enabling technologies including: a novel, bipolar pulse-forming line allowing module stacking without ferrites, very compact and fast oil filled switches, novel high-dielectric constant insulator/energy storage material, and a novel method for reducing edge enhancements in the pulse forming structure. The combination of these technologies enables us to design a very compact stackable module that will deliver high-gradient (5-10 MV/m) voltage at 5-10kA to arbitrary loads. Our prototype is comprised of four stages. Each stage is designed to operate at 300kV producing 1.2-MV into 120 Ohms. The pulse length is 25-ns and the pulse-shape is rectangular. We present initial experimental results up to 75 kV per stage with the switches operating in self-break mode

Experiments with UV Laser Triggered Spark Gaps in a Stacked Blumlein System

This paper discusses switch requirements from basic circuit analysis and the experimental setup, parameters, and results of an experiment to investigate the feasibility of UV laser triggering of up to 40 Blumlein lines in a very compact Stacked Blumlein Line System. In addition, the method of fabricating a very compact SBL transmission lines is presented. Then the behavior of the switch parameters in the stack when closure is initiated with a UV laser pulse is presented. Specifically, the time varying inductance and resistance of the laser initiated gas discharge channel is presented and compared with a circuit model to elucidate the switch performance

Time resolved, 2-D hard X-ray imaging of relativistic electron-beam target interactions on ETA-II

Advanced radiographic applications require a constant source size less than 1 mm. To study the time history of a relativistic electron beam as it interacts with a bremsstrahlung converter, one of the diagnostics they use is a multi-frame time-resolved hard x-ray camera. They are performing experiments on the ETA-II accelerator at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to investigate details of the electron beam/converter interactions. The camera they are using contains 6 time-resolved images, each image is a 5 ns frame. By starting each successive frame 10 ns after the previous frame, they create a 6-frame movie from the hard x-rays produced from the interaction of the 50-ns electron beam pulse

DC Characterization of High Gradient Multilayer Insulators

We have developed a novel insulator concept that involves the use of alternating layers of conductors and insulators with periods less than 1 mm. We have demonstrated that these structures perform 2 to 5 times better than conventional insulators in long pulse, short pulse, and alternating polarity applications. We present new testing results showing exceptional behavior at DC, with gradients in excess of 110kV/cm in vacuum