Design, testing and modeling of a high-gain magnetic flux-compression generator

Abstract

Using a simultaneously initiated cylindrical explosive, a coaxial magnetic flux-compression generator (FCG) was designed to test high-current-gain limitations. A coaxial design with a lossless gain of approx.100:1 was chosen for its efficiency, relative simplicity, and calculability. Theoretical design included modeling as well as 1-D and 2-D hydrodynamic and MHD calculations. A 69.3-cm cylinder of PBX-9501 high explosive, 20.3 cm in diameter, was used to drive the Al armature into a Cu stator. The initial current supplied by a capacitor bank was approx.3 MA which produced a final current approx.75 MA. Details of the experiment and a comparison with calculations are presented