25 megajoule energy storage and delivery system for the Shiva laser

A 25 megajoule, 20 kV capacitive energy storage and delivery system has been built and tested for Shiva--a 20 arm, 10 kJ, 20 TW neodymium glass fusion research laser. This system supplies over 3.5 megamperes to xenon flashlamps for optical pumping of the laser amplifier. About 15% of the energy is used to establish magnetic fields within Faraday rotator glass. A digital based control and diagnostics scheme is employed through the entire pulse power system. This scheme utilizes a distributed digital data bus that addresses every element through two levels of optical isolation. The interfacing of low level digital circuitry to a pulse power environment is discussed, as well as the design and performance of the total system. Cost and manufacturing details are important in a project of this size. The projected cost goal of 27 cents/joule, installed and operating, has been met. The general approach to the design, transient analysis, manufacture, and activation of this large power conditioning system is also discussed