Study of Bright Spots in Wire-Array Z-Pinches

ORAL

Abstract

Bright areas with a high plasma density and temperature (hot spots) were observed in all kinds of Z-pinches. Hot spots may be interpreted as results of the collapse of the plasma necks due to plasma outflowing and radiative losses of energy. We studied bright radiating spots in cylindrical and planar wire-arrays at the 1 MA Zebra generator using x-ray streak cameras synchronized with laser diagnostics, x-ray time-gated pinhole camera and spectroscopy. Hot spots in Al wire arrays generate x-ray bursts with durations of 0.4-1ns in the soft range and 0.1-0.4ns in the keV range. UV two-frame shadowgraphy shows spatial correlation of hot spots with micropinches. Hot spots can generate continuum radiation with energy \textgreater 2.5keV. An analysis of x-ray streak images shows that hot spots can generate \textgreater 20{\%} of the x-ray energy of the Z pinches.

Authors

  • Vladimir Ivanov

    Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, University of Nevada, Reno, US, University of Nevada, Reno

  • D. Papp

    University of Nevada, Reno, US

  • Austin Anderson

    University of Nevada, Reno, US, University of Nevada, Reno

  • B. Talbot

    Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, University of Nevada, Reno, US

  • A.L. Astanovitskiy

    University of Nevada, Reno, US

  • V. Nalajala

    University of Nevada, Reno, US

  • O. Dmitriev

    University of Nevada, Reno, US

  • J.P. Chittenden

    Imperial College, Imperial College, London, UK

  • Nicolas Niasse

    Imperial College, London, UK, Imperial College London