Pulse power for future and past x-ray simulators

Studies were made of pulse-power designs to drive 100-ns and 250-ns Z-pinches that are predicted to produce 400 kJ of 13-keV krypton K-shell radiation. A radiating Z-pinch model and a simplified circuit model were used to optimize the Z-pinch and general driver parameters. Four 250-ns driver architectures are described that were developed into point designs; we used present Syllac-capacitor style Marx generators and then progressively lower inductance ("fast") Marxes or pulser stages connected in series in "linear transformer" drivers. The point designs are compared with each other and with very low inductance pulser technology developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1970s and 1980s, which is described. Initial aims of a fast Marx component development program, to build on previous experience and make to available the advantages of the more advanced point designs, are presented.