SYRINX Project: HPP Generators Devoted to Isentropic Compression Experiments.

Some compact pulsed-current generators are described here. They allow the generation of isentropic compression loading of metals and other materials. The range of pressures achievable is 30300 kbar for the Explosive Switch Compact Generator (ESCG). This generator consists of a RLC circuit that discharges in a strip (also called plate)-line insulated by dielectric foils. Placed on the end of this strip-line, some material samples can be studied under dynamical loading. Typical dimensions of the tested samples are 1 mm thick, 8mm diameter. A current of 700 kA to 1.6 MA allows some 30-300 kbar ramp pressures generated with a 500ns rise time. The switch used in the ESCG is a linear-waveexplosive switch. 0D circuit and MHD simulations are discussed and compared with experimental results. Diagnostics based on current-voltage and free-surface velocity measurements are presented. Finally, the generation of isentropic compression principles and simulations discussed above are used to analyse the potential of a new compact generator which development is contracted to ITHPP, a French company. This generator should allow us to explore the 100kbar-1Mbar isentropic compression regime in order to study material behavior under dynamic loading for a large range of material and geometry samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]