2-DIMENSIONAL MODELING OF X-RAY OUTPUT FROM SWITCHED FOIL IMPLOSIONS ON PROCYON

A series of two-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamic calculations are presented of a Z-pinch implosion using a plasma flow switch. Resu lts from a recent experiment using the high explosive driven generator Procyon, which delivered 16.5 MA to a plasma flow switch and switched about 15 MA into a static load, are used to study the implosion of a 29 mg load foil [J. H. Goforth et al., ''Review of the Procyon Explosi ve Pulsed Power System,'' in Ninth IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, June 1993, Albuquerque, edited by K. R. Prestwich and W. L. Baker (Institut e of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Piscataway, NJ, 1993), p. 3 6]. The interaction of the switch with the load plasma and the effects of background plasma on the total radiation output is examined. Model s which assume ideal switching are also included. Also included are th e effects of perturations in the load plasma which may be associated w ith initial vaporization of the load foil. If the background plasma de nsity in the switch region and in the load region does not affect the dynamics, the pinch is predicted to produce a total radiation output o f about 4 MJ, Including perturbations of tile load plasma associated w ith switching and assuming a background plasma density after su itchin g in excess of 10(-7) g/cm(3) results in a total output from the pinch of about 0.6 MJ. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.