Two-pulse injector experiments with the RIIM electron accelerator

The RADLAC-II accelerator foilless diode injector was operated under double-pulse conditions utilizing the RIIM accelerator as the test bed [M. G. Mazarakis, D. L. Smith, R. B. Miller, R. S. Clark, D. E. Hasti, D. L. Johnson, J. W. Poukey, K. R. Prestwich, and S. L. Shope, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. NS-32, 3237 (1985)]. The original RIIM accelerator pulsed-power network was modified to provide for the generation, transmission, and delivery to the foilless diode of two distinct multimegavolt pulses with variable interpulse separation from 0 to 2 ms. The foilless diode successfully produced two 10-kA current pulses with interpulse separations up to 1 μs. For larger separations, the generated plasma and an excessive neutral gas release following the first pulse prevented the diode from producing a second current pulse.