Effect of power flow asymmetry on wire-array Z-pinch ablation flow

Radial Magnetically-Insulated Transmission Lines (MITLs), which act as the last conducting component that couples electrical current to a pulsed magnetic fusion target, can generate debris and shrapnel during shots that pose a hazard to the surrounding structure. Slotted MITLs significantly reduce the overall mass of the post-shot debris and their kinetic impact, but break the azimuthal symmetry of the power flow and can potentially degrade the inertial confinement of the fusion fuel. In order to understand the effect of azimuthally asymmetric power flow on imploding targets, wire-array Z-pinch experiments with a slotted radial MITL were performed on MAGPIE, a MA-scale pulsed power machine. The dynamics of the wire array ablation streams and of the precursor column are characterized with optical diagnostics from both end-on and side-on perspectives. Imaging and interferometry of the ablating array reveal imprints of the lower-order rotational symmetry of the slotted MITL onto the wire array precursor plasma on the axis. Velocimetry through Thomson scattering was used to quantify the maximal azimuthal perturbation to the precursor dynamics.We will present results from wire-array Z-pinch experiments with different low-mass MITL geometries that aim to mitigate asymmetry while maintaining the same level of mass reduction and inductance penalty. Comparison between experimental results and MHD simulations will also be presented.