Modeling of L- and K-shell x-ray radiation from stainless steel wire arrays and X-pinch implosions on the 1MA pulsed power generator at UNR

Modeling of x-ray spectra from the implosion of stainless steel wire loads is challenging because of the overlapping contributions of L-shell spectra from the Fe and Ni ions. Nevertheless, it is a useful diagnostic because of the broad region of electron temperatures (0.2-2keV) corresponding to L- and K-shell radiation. L- and K-shell x-ray spectra have been collected from stainless steel single-wire, X-pinch, conical, and planar array experiments on the 1MA Zebra generator and have been analyzed in detail and compared. Non-LTE Fe, Ni, and Cr kinetic models have been developed to account for the K- and L-shell radiation from these ions. Two atomic data sets were employed and will be compared for the Fe model. The resulting plasma parameters from the axially-resolved L-shell and spatially-integrated K-shell spectra and their dependence on the load type will be discussed. Work supported by the DOE/NNSA under UNR grant DE-FC52-01NV14050, by Sandia National Laboratories under DOE contract DE-AC04-94AL85000, and in part by fellowship support from the National Physical Science Consortium with Sandia National Laboratories.