High Energy DensityZ-Pinch Plasma Conditions with Picosecond Time Resolution

Abstract

Using an X-pinch configuration, we have determined that micropinches produced by exploding-wire z pinches can have densities approaching solid density and temperatures of 0.5-1.8 keV, depending upon the wire material used. These plasma parameters, determined from x-ray spectra recorded using an x-ray streak camera, vary drastically on time scales ranging from <10 to 100 ps. Computer simulations require radiation loss to reproduce the observed plasma implosion, suggesting that a radiative-collapse hypothesis for micropinch plasma formation may be correct.

Study of the Internal Structure and Small-Scale Instabilities in the DenseZPinch

“…The structure of the stagnated Zpinch has been studied with x-ray self-emission diagnostics, which can derive a temperature map of the pinch with a spatial resolution of 70-150 µm [3]. X-ray radiography was applied to X-pinches, a single wire and ablation and implosion stages in wire-array Z-pinches [6,15,16].…”

Supersonic jet formation and propagation in x-pinches

“…This has led to their application as an x-ray (1-10 keV) backlighter by Pikuz et al (1997) and Shelkovenko et al (2001b) for diagnosing dense plasmas. Pikuz et al (2002) showed that these systems can be driven with currents as low as a few tens of kilo-amps, and are therefore a convenient and low-cost medium for the study of high energy density (>10 11 J/m 3 ) and radiation dominated plasmas. While previous research has focused on the formation of the hot-spot, more recently studies have also investigated the low density coronal plasma ablated from the wires by the drive current.…”

Use of spherically bent crystals to diagnose wire array z pinches

“…[6][7][8] In the standard arrangement, the spectrum is formed on the Rowland circle in the meridional plane and spatial resolution is obtained by focusing in the saggital direction. 6,7 In the experiments described here the spherically bent mica crystal with R = 186 mm was positioned far from the pinch with good debris shielding.…”