Radiographic and spectroscopic studies of X-pinch plasma implosion dynamics and x-ray burst emission characteristics

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2001 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1351553· OSTI ID:40206003

Shelkovenko, T A; Sinars, D B; Pikuz, S A; Hammer, D A

Experimental results are presented from studies of the dynamics of X-pinch plasmas, formed using two fine wires that cross and touch at a single point (in the form of an X) as the load of a high current pulser. High-resolution (sub-ns in time and 2--3 {mu}m in space) x-ray radiographs of X pinches driven by current pulses that rise to 200--250 kA peak current in 40 ns show that {<=}300 {mu}m long Z pinches form in the region of the original wire cross-point a few ns prior to the first sub-ns intense x-ray bursts that are characteristic of an X pinch. The Z pinches implode to {<=}10 {mu}m diam and then appear to develop gaps in the radiographic images in one or two places, coincident in time with the x-ray burst(s). The emission spectra of the intense x-ray bursts from different wire materials indicate electron temperatures of 500--1300 eV and densities in excess of 10{sup 22}/cm{sup 3}.

• Sponsoring Organization: (US)
• OSTI ID: 40206003
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 8; ISSN 1070-664X
• Publisher: The American Physical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
EMISSION SPECTRA
IMAGES
IMPLOSIONS
PHYSICS
PLASMA