Opacity and gradients in aluminum wire array z-pinch implosions on the Z pulsed power facility

Journal Article · Sat Mar 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4865224· OSTI ID:22252028

Hansen, S. B.; Jennings, C. A.; Jones, B.; Coverdale, C. A.; Harvey-Thompson, A. J.; Rochau, G. A.; Dunham, G.; Moore, N. W.; Harding, E. C.; Cuneo, M. E. ^[1]; Chong, Y. -K.; Clark, R. W.; Ouart, N.; Thornhill, J. W.; Giuliani, J.; Apruzese, J. P. ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
2. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)

Aluminum wire array z pinches imploded on the Z generator are an extremely bright source of 1–2 keV radiation, with close to 400 kJ radiated at photon energies >1 keV and more than 50 kJ radiated in a single line (Al Ly-α). Opacity plays a critical role in the dynamics and K-shell radiation efficiency of these pinches. Where significant structure is present in the stagnated pinch this acts to reduce the effective opacity of the system as demonstrated by direct analysis of spectra. Analysis of time-integrated broadband spectra (0.8–25 keV) indicates electron temperatures ranging from a few 100 eV to a few keV are present, indicative of substantial temperature gradients.

• OSTI ID: 22252028
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 21; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
K SHELL
KEV RANGE 01-10
OPACITY
PHOTONS
PULSES
SPECTRA
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
WIRES