Aluminum, calcium, and titanium imploding plasma experiments on the BLACKJACK 5 pulse generator

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.331276· OSTI ID:5155137

Clark, W; Gersten, M; Katzenstein, J; Rauch, J; Richardson, R; Wilkinson, M

The 10 TW BLACKJACK 5 pulse generator has been used to create both plasmas with electron densities on the order of 5 x 10/sup 20/ cm/sup -3/ and electron temperatures between 0.5 and 2 keV by imploding cylindrical arrays of fine aluminum, calcium, and titanium wires and ribbons. Visible streak photographs indicate that the wires are ionized by the prepulse and expand to approx.1-mm diameter before imploding toward the central array axis to form a dense pinch. The individual plasmas assemble on axis at approximately peak current, at which time a 20--25-ns FWHM pulse of K-shell x-ray radiation is emitted. Emission from H-, He-, and Li-like ionization states has been observed with curved crystal spectrographs, and electron temperatures and densities have been inferred from these measurements. Pinhole photographs show intense emitting regions and kink structures in the plasma column.

• Research Organization: Maxwell Laboratories, Incorporated, San Diego, California 92123
• OSTI ID: 5155137
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 53:6; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700106* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Plasma Production-- (-1987)
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM
CALCIUM
CONFIGURATION
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
DATA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
EXPANSION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXPLOSIONS
FUNCTION GENERATORS
INFORMATION
IONIZATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PHOTOGRAPHY
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PULSE GENERATORS
PULSES
RADIATIONS
STREAK PHOTOGRAPHY
TARGETS
TITANIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WIRES
X RADIATION