PRODUCTION OF WAVELENGTH-SELECTIVE, TIME-RESOLVED, X-RAY IMAGES OF A NEON PLASMA IN THE SPEED-2 PLASMA-FOCUS

The dynamics of pinching of a neon plasma in the SPEED 2 facility has been investigated by recording wavelength-selective, x-ray images of t he plasma with good space and time resolution. A series of images of t he plasma focus was obtained on the lambda=1.21 nm and lambda=1.35 nm emission lines of hydrogen- and helium-like ions at various stages of plasma compression. The stable nature of the discharge in a neon plasm a was confirmed. It was established that at the final stage of pinchin g, the charge of the neon ions increases rapidly from +9 to +10, and w hen the pinch diameter is less than 1 mm, the plasma is completely ion ized. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7850(97)02604-9].