Study of radiation yield dynamics and implosion characteristics of Al wire arrays in comparison with Al cylindrical wire arrays and X-pinches at 1MA Zebra generator

Study of X-ray/EUV yields and timing characteristics of radiation bursts from Al planar wire arrays on 1MA, 100 ns Zebra generator have been performed. These results are compared with that of Al X-pinches and cylindrical wire arrays on the same generator. Planar arrays showed higher total energy yields (11kJ) and sub-keV yield (7 kJ) than x-pinches (8 and 3.5 kJ) and cylindrical arrays (4-6 and 1-1.7 kJ). Study of timing characteristics shown single shot x-ray burst from planar arrays (K-shell rise time 3-5 ns width), which is much less compared to cylindrical array (20-30 ns). In case of x-pinches, typically multiple bursts (more than 1-3, with shorter time 1-2 ns) occurred. Planar array power measured of 0.3-0.5 TW (sub-keV region) is greater than to x-pinches (0.1 TW) and much higher in comparison with cylindrical arrays (0.03-0.05 TW). Therefore, planar wire arrays proved to deliver higher powers than cylindrical wire arrays and x-pinches with time width of radiation bursts much closer to that of x-pinches. Work supported by the DOE/ NNSA under UNR grant DE-FC52-01NV14050 and by Sandia National Laboratories under DOE contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.