Hot dense capsule implosions driven by z-pinch x-rays have been measured for the first time. A ~220 eV dynamic hohlraum imploded 1.7-2.1 mm diameter gas-filled CH capsules which absorbed up to ~20 kJ of x-rays. Argon tracer atom spectra were used to measure the T e ~1 keV electron temperature and the n e ~1-4 x 10 23 cm -3 electron density. Spectra from multiple directions provide core symmetry estimates. Computer simulations agree well with the peak compression values of T e , n e , and symmetry, indicating reasonable understanding of the hohlraum and implosion physics.Implosion of spherical capsules by x-rays contained in an enclosure known as a hohlraum is the baseline approach for achieving inertial confinement fusion (ICF) [1]. These implosions provide a platform for high energy density physics investigations and may enable studies of matter at conditions similar to stellar interiors. One method for generating the required high energy density x-rays is the z-pinch dynamic hohlraum (ZPDH) [2][3][4]. Accelerating an annular high-atomic-number zpinch plasma onto a low-atomic-number low-density cylindrical foam creates this type of hohlraum. The z-pinch plasma impact onto the foam launches a radiating shock that propagates toward the cylinder axis and heats the hohlraum. The z-pinch plasma traps the radiation, improving the symmetry for driving capsule implosions at the center of the hohlraum. In this Letter we describe the first x-ray measurements of hot dense implosion cores produced using z-pinch radiation drive.ICF requires highly-symmetric capsule implosions. Absorption of 150 kJ of x-ray energy in a carefully-shaped pulse with ~1-3 % spatial symmetry is estimated to be sufficient for ignition [1].The appeal of the ZPDH approach is efficient generation and delivery of x-rays to the capsule. Indeed, the capsules in the experiments reported here absorbed up to 20 kJ of x-rays, about 1/8 of the estimated ignition requirement. However, it remains to be seen whether adequate symmetry and temporal pulse shaping control can be obtained. The experiments reported here represent an important step toward ZPDH symmetry control.Recent work [5][6] demonstrated reasonable ZPDH performance understanding. The effect of random z-pinch non-uniformities on the shock radiation source was found very small. The systematic asymmetries must now be addressed. The cylindrical ZPDH tends to drive the spherical capsule with equator-hot radiation that, if uncorrected, will produce an implosion elongated along the cylinder axis. Symmetry corrections, including radiation shields, non-cylindrical foams, and local foam dopants, require diagnostics capable of measuring the alteration's effect. Published laser driven implosions [7] showed that x-ray core imaging measurements of the equatorial plane radius (a) compared to the polar radius (b) reflected the x-ray drive asymmetry. Applying this method to the ZPDH is complicated by the difficulty of viewing the implosion through the luminous highopacity z-pinch plasma (Fig. 1). We consequently em...