View source for Linear transformer driver

A '''linear transformer driver''' ('''LTD''') within [[physics]] and [[energy]], is an annular [[Series and parallel circuits#Parallel circuits|parallel]] connection of switches and [[capacitor]]s. The driver is designed to deliver rapid high [[Power (physics)|power]] pulses. The LTD was invented at the [[Institute of High Current Electronics]] (IHCE) in [[Tomsk]], Russia. The LTD is capable of producing high current pulses, up to 1 mega amps (10<sup>6</sup> [[ampere]]), with a [[risetime]] of less than 100 ns. This is an improvement over [[Marx generator]] based [[pulsed power]] devices which require pulse compression to achieve such fast risetimes. It is being considered as a driver for [[z-pinch]] based [[inertial confinement fusion]].

==LTDs at Sandia National Laboratories==

[[Sandia National Laboratory]] is currently investigating a z-pinch as a possible ignition source for inertial confinement fusion. On its "[[Z Pulsed Power Facility|Z machine]]", Sandia can achieve dense, high temperature plasmas by firing fast, 100-nanosecond current pulses exceeding 20 million amps through hundreds of tungsten wires with diameters on the order of tens of micrometres. The LTD is currently being investigated as a driver for the next generation of high power accelerators.

Sandia's roadmap includes another future Z machine version called ZN (Z Neutron) to test higher yields in fusion power and automation systems. ZN is planned to give between 20 and 30 MJ of hydrogen fusion power with a shot per hour thanks to LTDs replacing the current Marx generators.<ref>[http://www.sandia.gov/LabNews/070427.html Rapid-fire pulse brings Sandia’s Z method closer to goal of developing high-yield fusion reactor], Sandia's press release (April 27, 2007).</ref> After 8 to 10 years of operation, ZN would become a transmutation pilot plant capable of a fusion shot every 100 seconds.<ref>[http://www.prod.sandia.gov/cgi-bin/techlib/access-control.pl/2006/067148.pdf Z-Inertial Fusion Energy: Power Plant Final Report FY 2006]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Sandia Report SAND2006-7148 (October 2006).</ref>

The next step planned would be the Z-IFE (Z-inertial fusion energy) test facility, the first true z-pinch driven prototype fusion power plant. It is suggested it would integrate Sandia's latest designs using LTDs. Sandia labs recently proposed a conceptual 1 petawatt (10<sup>15</sup> watts) LTD Z-pinch power plant, where the electric discharge would reach 70 million amperes.<ref>W.A. Stygar ''et al.'', [http://www.sandia.gov/pulsedpower/prog_cap/pub_papers/accelerator_architecture_PRSTAB_2007.pdf Architecture of petawatt-class z-pinch accelerators] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192309/http://www.sandia.gov/pulsedpower/prog_cap/pub_papers/accelerator_architecture_PRSTAB_2007.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }} (October 2007).</ref>

[[Image:Petawatt LTD z pinch.png|thumb|center|500px|Proposed model of a 1,000 terawatt LTD-based z-pinch accelerator.<br> 104 m diameter, 70 million amperes, 24 megavolts.<br> Human being (the black line just left of the center of the LTD) for scale.]]

==See also==
{{cmn|
* [[Electromagnetic forming]]
* [[Electromagnetic pulse]] (EMP)
* [[Index of energy articles]]
* [[Index of wave articles]]
* [[Magnetic pulse welding]]
* [[Particle accelerator]]
* [[Power (physics)]]
* [[Pulsed power]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100528034932/http://www.sandia.gov/pulsedpower/prog_cap/pub_papers/AmPhys_12_050402.pdf Development and tests of fast 1-MA linear transformer driver stages]
* http://www.sandia.gov/news/resources/releases/2007/rapid-fire-pulse.html
* http://www-ners.engin.umich.edu/labs/plasma/Research/ZPinch.html

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[[Category:Power (physics)]]