Ion Energy Diagnostics for Voltage Determinations in Plasma-Erosion-Opening-Switch Experiments

摘要

A number of nuclear techniques have been developed and used to measure ion-diode voltages for plasma-erosion-opening-switch (PEOS) experiments on the Gamble II pulsed-power generator at NRL. The voltage is determined by measuring the energy of protons or deuterons from the diode. The techniques include neutron time-of-flight, neutron-intensity measurements, delayed activations, and stacked-foil activations. These diagnostics have evolved as the voltage developed in PEOS experiments have increased from less than 1 MV to more than 4 MV. Examples of these diagnostics are presented, and the extension of some of these techniques to voltages of more than 20 MV is described.