D. Mosher et al., A 2-LEVEL MODEL FOR K-SHELL RADIATION SCALING OF THE IMPLODING Z-PINCH PLASMA RADIATION SOURCE, IEEE transactions on plasma science, 26(3), 1998, pp. 1052-1061
A simple, first-principle treatment is presented for estimating, withi
n about a factor-of-two, how K-shell x-radiation from the plasma radia
tion source scales with plasma, pulsed-power, and imploding-load param
eters. The transparency of this two-level model clarifies the relation
s between X-ray yield and underlying physical processes, provides simp
le analytic expressions for optimal load parameters and associated yie
lds, and establishes links between radiating-load performance and syst
em constraints imposed by other processes. The two-level model provide
s results similar to another one-zone model based on phenomenological
extrapolations of selected one-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic calc
ulations. The model compares well with K-shell radiation results from
Hawk neon gas puff and Saturn aluminum large-wire-number array experim
ents, provided that assumed compression ratios are less than those inf
erred from X-ray pinhole images. The reduced compression ratios requir
ed by the model can be traced to its one-zone nature.