Rets-6 Output Pulse Modifications

The RITS accelerator was upgraded from three pulse forming lines (PFL) and inductive voltage adder (IVA) cells to six PFLs and IVA cells during 2005 with radiographic diode experiments beginning in 2006 [1], [2]. The original RITS-6 accelerator configuration is capable of operation at voltages greater than 10 MV with a 80-Omega magnetically-insulated transmission line (MITL). Low impedance diodes such as the self-magnetic pinch (SMP) diode are not matched well to the high impedance MITL and decrease the diode voltage to about 5 MV. A low impedance MITL has been designed and tested with an operating impedance of about 40 Omega at the output end. Experimental results with both MITL impedances will be presented. The output pulse shape of the RITS-6 accelerator can be modified to emulate other accelerators and to investigate the impact of various pulse features on radiographic diode performance. Simulations and experimental results are discussed below.