The Compensated Pulsed Alternator (CPA) is a large rotating machine that will convert mechanical, rotationally stored energy into a single electrical impulse of very high power. It is being optimized for driving flashlamps in the very large NOVA Nd:glass laser system. The machine is a rotary flux compression device, and for maximum performance, it requires start-up current. We report upon a circuit that will provide this current and that will also assist in triggering the flashlamps. This circuit has been tested with a 200 kilojoule capacitor bank and it is now being tested with a small 200 kilojoule CPA. Large Nove-size machines will require output energies in excess of 5 megajoules. We also present empirically tested formulae that will assist in matching the Nova flashlamp load to any given size CPA machine.

A new energy store, the Compensated Pulsed Alternator (CPA), promises to be a cost effective substitute for capacitors to drive flashlamps that pump large Nd:glass lasers. Because the CPA is large and discrete, it will be necessary that it drive many parallel flashlamp circuits, presenting a problem in equal current distribution. Current division to +- 20% between parallel flashlamps has been achieved, but this is marginal for laser pumping. A method is presented here that provides equal current sharing to about 1%, and it includes fused protection against short circuit faults. The method was tested with eight parallel circuits, including both open-circuit and short-circuit fault tests.

We have developed a rail-gun plasma source to produce a plasma of 10/sup 12/cm/sup -3/ particle density and project it with a velocity of 3.9 cm/..mu..s. This device will be used in a output spatial filter of Nova to project a critical density plasma across an optical beam path and block laser retroreflected light. The object of this paper is to describe the design of a pulser appropriate to the Shiva laser fusion facility, and to describe the preliminary design of a higher current prototype pulser for Nova the laser fusion research facility under construction at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

At the Lawrence Livermore Laboraory, major emphasis has been placed upon the development of large, ND:glass laser systems in order to address the basic physics issues associated with light driven fusion targets. A parallel program is directed toward the development of lasers which exhibit higher efficiencies and shorter wavelengths and are thus more suitable as drivers for fusion power plants. This paper discusses the pulse power technology which has been developed to meet the near and far term needs of the laser fusion program at Livermore.

MBA has been working on the automated array assembly task of the Low-Cost Solar Array project. A baseline sequence for the manufacture of solar cell modules is specified. Starting with silicon wafers, the process goes through damage etching, texture etching, junction formation, plasma edge etch, aluminum back surface field formation, and screen printed metallization to produce finished solar cells which are then series connected on a ribbon and bonded into a finished glass, PVB, tedlar module. A number of steps required additional developmental effort to verify technical and economic feasibility. These steps include texture etching, plasma edge etch, aluminum back surface field formation, array layup and interconnect, and module edge sealing and framing.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

Recent extensions of the peak power capabilities of planar triodes have made possible the latter's use as very fast pulse amplifiers, to drive optical gates within high-power Nd:glass laser chains. These pulse amplifiers switch voltages in the 20 kV range with rise times of a few nanoseconds, into crystal optical gates that are essentially capacitive loads. This paper describes a simplified procedure for designing these pulse amplifiers. It further outlines the use of bridged-T constant resistance networks to transform load capacitance into pure resistance, independent of frequency.