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

• Published in: Physical review letters Vol. 93; no. 14; pp. 145002.1 - 145002.4
• Main Authors: SINARS, D. B, CUNEO, M. E, YU, E. P, BLISS, D. E, NASH, T. J, PORTER, J. L, DEENEY, C, MAZARAKIS, M. G, SARKISOV, G. S, WENGER, D. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ridge, NY American Physical Society 01-10-2004
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic confinement and equilibrium; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma diagnostic techniques and instrumentation; Theta pinch; X-ray and y-ray measurements; X-ray and γ-ray measurements; X ray observation; Plasma diagnostics; Plasma instability; Implosions; Backlighting; Tungsten; Longitudinal pinch; Exploding wires; Sandia laboratories; Experimental study; Shadowscopy
• ISSN: 0031-9007; 1079-7114
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.145002

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.