We estimate the parameters of a Cu plasma generated by an X-pinch by comparing experimentally measured x-rays with synthetic data. A filtered absolute extreme ultraviolet diode array is used to measure time-resolved x-ray spectra with a spectral resolution of ∼1 keV in the energy range of 1–10 keV. The synthetic spectra of Cu plasmas with different electron temperatures, electron densities, and fast electron fractions are calculated using the FLYCHK code. For quantitative comparison with the measured spectrum, two x-ray power ratios with three different spectral ranges are calculated. We observe three x-ray bursts in X-pinch experiments with two Cu wires conducted on the SNU X-pinch at a current rise rate of ∼0.2 kA/ns. Analysis of the spectra reveals that the first burst comprises x-rays emitted by hot spots and electron beams, with characteristics similar to those observed in other X-pinches. The second and third bursts are both generated by long-lived electron beams formed after the neck structure has been completely depleted. In the second burst, the formation of the electron beam is accompanied by an increase in the electron density of the background plasma. Therefore, the long-lived electron beams generate the additional strong x-ray bursts while maintaining a plasma channel in the central region of the X-pinch. Moreover, they emit many hard x-rays (HXRs), enabling the SNU X-pinch to be used as an HXR source. This study confirms that the generation of long-lived electron beams is crucial to the dynamics of X-pinches and the generation of strong HXRs.

The liquid–vapor two-phase region has attracted the attention of various fundamental studies and applications. To explore the liquid–vapor two-phase region, underwater electrical wire explosion (UEWE) is a useful tool. In this work, we observe two different mechanisms of the liquid–vapor transition in UEWE: volume vaporization and spinodal decomposition. The main factors through which the mechanisms occur are the heating power and pressure accumulation in the system during UEWE. From the electrical properties and shadowgraph images, the phase transition process of the exploding wire is analyzed. The effects of possible instabilities during the liquid–vapor phase transition are also discussed. We expect that the thermodynamic properties of the liquid–vapor two-phase region can be explored using the UEWE technique based on the understanding of the phase transition process.