Power Flow Enhancement in the BLACKJACK 5 Pulser (BLACKJACK 5

Abstract : A modification of the 0.6 omega, 10 TW BLACKJACK 5 pulser has reduced its output impedance to 0.3 omega without a commensurate increase in pulser diameter. This new configuration is named BLACKJACK 5' and demonstrates convoluted power flow concepts as applied to coaxial water dielectric pulse lines. In this modification, a dual pulseforming line and ground plane shielded output switch provides the initial power flow convolution and the resultant parallel power flow is subsequently recombined in the diode. While ultimate performance is limited by the unaltered stages of BLACKJACK 5, initial tests have shown the increase in peak output power to be 20 percent greater than that from BLACKJACK 5 at the same operating level. Delivered energy will be 0.5 MJ at a power level of 10 TW. Further application of this technique should permit power levels approaching 25 TW from this single pulser module.