COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF SINGLE-CASCADE AND DOUBLE-CASCADE GAS PUFFS

The measured emission characteristics of single- and double-cascade ar gon gas puffs (fast Z-pinches) and their comparative analysis are pres ented. Experiments were performed in the GIT-4 generator with the indu ctive storage, with a load current of up to 1.6 MA and with a current- front duration of 100 ns. By using two spectrographs that provide meas urements in different wavelength ranges, the electron temperatures and masses of the hot and cold plasma fractions are determined. In the ca se of the double-cascade gas puff, the increase in the K-radiation yie ld is shown to be due to an increase in both the temperature and mass of the hot plasma fraction.