A compact, coaxial shunt current diagnostic for X pinches

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Pulsed Power Technology
• High Energy Density Physics

Background:

• X-pinches are crucial for studying high energy density plasmas.
• Accurate current measurement is essential for understanding X-pinch dynamics.
• Existing current probes can be bulky or expensive, limiting their application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a compact coaxial shunt for X-pinches experiments.
• To assess the performance of the shunt in measuring high currents.
• To provide a cost-effective and easily assembled current measurement solution.

Main Methods:

• A compact coaxial shunt was designed and constructed.
• The shunt was integrated into X-pinches experiments on the Qiangguang pulsed power generator.
• Calibration was performed to determine resistance and response time.

Main Results:

• The shunt successfully monitored currents up to 100 kA with a 100 ns rise time.
• Calibration revealed a resistance of 3.2 mΩ with 3% uncertainty.
• The probe exhibited a response time of less than 7 ns.

Conclusions:

• The compact coaxial shunt is a viable and effective current diagnostic for X-pinches.
• Its design offers advantages in terms of size, inductance, and ease of assembly.
• This development provides a cost-effective solution for pulsed power research.