Mass profile and instability growth measurements for 300-wire z-pinch implosions driven by 14-18, MA.

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004 · Proposed for publication in Physical Review Letters.

OSTI ID:951713

Cuneo, Michael Edward; Yu, Edmund P; Nash, Thomas J; Bliss, David Emery; Sinars, Daniel Brian

We present the first comprehensive study of high wire-number, wire-array Z-pinch dynamics at 14-18 MA using x-ray backlighting and optical shadowgraphy diagnostics. The cylindrical arrays retain slowly expanding, dense wire cores at the initial position up to 60% of the total implosion time. Azimuthally correlated instabilities at the array edge appear during this stage which continue to grow in amplitude and wavelength after the start of bulk motion, resulting in measurable trailing mass that does not arrive on axis before peak x-ray emission.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 951713
• Report Number(s): SAND2004-5153J; TRN: US0902293
• Journal Information: Proposed for publication in Physical Review Letters., Journal Name: Proposed for publication in Physical Review Letters.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
LINEAR Z PINCH DEVICES
AMPLITUDES
IMPLOSIONS
INSTABILITY
WAVELENGTHS