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Title: Implosion dynamics of condensed Z-pinch at the Angara-5-1 facility

Journal Article · · Plasma Physics Reports
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  1. Troitsk, Troitsk Institute for Innovation and Fusion Research (Russian Federation)
  2. Russian Academy of Sciences, Lebedev Physical Institute (Russian Federation)
  3. Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry (Russian Federation)
  4. National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute,” (Russian Federation)

The implosion dynamics of a condensed Z-pinch at load currents of up to 3.5 MA and a current rise time of 100 ns was studied experimentally at the Angara-5-1 facility. To increase the energy density, 1- to 3-mm-diameter cylinders made of a deuterated polyethylene−agar-agar mixture or microporous deuterated polyethylene with a mass density of 0.03–0.5 g/cm{sup 3} were installed in the central region of the loads. The plasma spatiotemporal characteristics were studied using the diagnostic complex of the Angara-5-1 facility, including electron-optical streak and frame imaging, time-integrated X-ray imaging, soft X-ray (SXR) measurements, and vacuum UV spectroscopy. Most information on the plasma dynamics was obtained using a ten-frame X-ray camera (Е > 100 eV) with an exposure of 4 ns. SXR pulses were recorded using photoemissive vacuum X-ray detectors. The energy characteristics of neutron emission were measured using the time-offlight method with the help of scintillation detectors arranged along and across the pinch axis. The neutron yield was measured by activation detectors. The experimental results indicate that the plasma dynamics depends weakly on the load density. As a rule, two stages of plasma implosion were observed. The formation of hot plasma spots in the initial stage of plasma expansion from the pinch axis was accompanied by short pulses of SXR and neutron emission. The neutron yield reached (0.4–3) × 10{sup 10} neutrons/shot and was almost independent of the load density due to specific features of Z-pinch dynamics.

OSTI ID:
22760290
Journal Information:
Plasma Physics Reports, Vol. 43, Issue 8; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-780X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English