Study on parallel operation of low-impedance rod-pinch diodes for flash X-ray radiography

Zhang Peizhou; Shi Huantong; Wang Jiapeng; Wang Tongquan; Han Jingrui; Ye Mingjie; Wang Zhenyu; Wu Jian; Li Xingwen

doi:10.11884/HPLPB202638.260039

Article Contents

Article Navigation > High Power Laser and Particle Beams > 2026 > Accepted Manuscript

Zhang Peizhou, Shi Huantong, Wang Jiapeng, et al. Study on parallel operation of low-impedance rod-pinch diodes for flash X-ray radiography[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202638.260039

Citation:

Zhang Peizhou, Shi Huantong, Wang Jiapeng, et al. Study on parallel operation of low-impedance rod-pinch diodes for flash X-ray radiography[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202638.260039

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Study on parallel operation of low-impedance rod-pinch diodes for flash X-ray radiography

doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202638.260039

State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

Received Date: 2026-02-23
Accepted Date: 2026-04-01
Rev Recd Date: 2026-04-11

Available Online: 2026-04-27

Abstract

Abstract

Background
Flash X-ray radiography is an effective means to obtain the transient density information of an object undergoing high-speed evolution, which is of critical importance in material physics, detonation physics and weapon design. A rod-pinch diode driven by pulsed power is one of the most iconic load configurations in the field of flash X-ray radiography, for its X-ray spot with small size, high dose and fixed position.
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the parallel driven mode of low-impedance wire-shorted rod-pinch diodes as a potential technical approach for synchronous multi-axial and quasi-coaxial multi-frame X-ray radiography, and to characterize the load electrical properties over a wide range of driving currents.
Methods
Through experimental trials on a four-stage linear transformer pulsed power driver and circuit simulations in Ansys Simplorer, the X-ray characteristics and electrical performance of the loads are systematically evaluated.
Results
Experiments show that the current distribution and the X-ray burst timing can be adjusted by the wire mass. The parallel loads with identical configurations give two X-ray bursts that are synchronous in time and even in dose, which can be used for dual-axial radiography; while the parallel loads with different wire mass give two sequenced X-ray bursts separated by 70 ns, which is suitable for double-frame radiography. Compared with the use of multiple independent pulsed power sources, this technical approach can significantly reduce costs; and compared with the scheme of driving a single load with multiple pulses to achieve multi-frame X-ray output, it features a simpler driving configuration and weaker mutual interference between sequenced pulses. In addition, this paper presents equivalent circuit models for the wire-shorted rod-pinch diode load, the circuit simulation coupling the pulsed power driver and the load gives calculation results consistent with the experimental measurements, further corroborating the conclusions on the plasma dynamics of exploding wire in the load and facilitating the application of the load.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the parallel operation mode of low-impedance wire-shorted rod-pinch diodes is demonstrated to be an effective approach for multi-frame or multi-axial flash X-ray radiography, and the circuit model further provides predictive capability for load optimization, supporting its application in advanced radiographic diagnostics.
- flash radiography,
- multi-frame,
- hard X-ray,
- rod-pinch diode,
- pulsed power

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References(27)

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