An Overview of the Charger-1 Pulsed Power Facility

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Marshall Space Flight Center is working to develop a pulsed power facility. The facility, known as Charger-1, is a 1-TW pulsed power machine. The hardware was originally DECADE Module 1 from L-3 Pulsed Sciences Division in San Leandro, CA. The DECADE program enabled the construction of several pulsed-power modules. Together, they were used for high-energy X-ray generation and weapons effects testing. The module at UAH is being outfitted for z-pinch propulsion system and nuclear energy production experiments. Its primary envisioned goal is to support the development of a Pulsed Fission-Fusion propulsion system with experimental data. This document is intended to update the nuclear and pulsed power communities as to the progress of the facility development. An overview of the facility and its status is presented.