X-Pinch Experiments on UM Linear Transformer Drivers

X-pinches have been tested on the MAIZE Linear Transformer Driver (LTD) at the University of Michigan. The MAIZE LTD can supply 1 MA, 100 kV pulses with 100 ns risetime into a matched load. The x-pinch consists of a single wire separated by conical electrodes between two current return plates. The LTD was charged to +/-70 kV resulting in approximately 0.4-0.5 MA passing through a single wire. Initial tests with Mo and Al wires show several x-ray bursts over the length of the current pulse. The x-pinch is expected to be placed in parallel with a plasma load foil of 400 nm Al. Magnetic pressure causes the foil to accelerate, which drives the magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor (MRT) instability. Laser shadowgraphy has been used to image the foil and determine the growth rate, and the x-pinch is planned as a backlighter with the goal of x-ray probing the foil plasma at higher densities. A smaller 100-150 kA LTD x-pinch driver is also being developed.