Initiation of aluminum wire array on the 1-MA ZEBRA accelerator and its effect on ablation dynamics and x-ray yield
- Ktech Corporation, 10800 Gibson Blvd., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123 (United States)
The effect of current prepulse on the initiation of Al wire arrays, ablation dynamics and x-ray production was investigated on the 1-MA ZEBRA accelerator (University of Nevada, Reno). It is shown that increasing the number of wires lowers the temperature of the wire cores at the time of breakdown. Al arrays with cold wire cores demonstrate long and inhomogeneous ablation, and a less intense, wider x-ray pulse. Shortening the current prepulse by a flashover switch causes an increased wire-core temperature, symmetrization and synchronization of the wires' ablation, and improvement of the amplitude and shape of the x-ray pulse. Application of a vacuum flashover switch can be important for shortening the current prepulse on the upcoming 28-MA ZR-accelerator at Sandia National Laboratories to optimize the x-ray production and shot-to-shot reproducibility from wire-array Z pinches.
- OSTI ID:
- 21069909
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 14; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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