Effect of neutral atoms on a capillary-discharge Z pinch

We study the effect of neutral atoms on the dynamics of a capillary dischar ge Z pinch, in a regime for which a large soft-x-ray amplification has been demonstrated. We extended the commonly used one-fluid magnetohydrodynamics model by separating out the neutral atoms as a second fluid. Numerical cal culations using this extended model yield new predictions for the dynamics of the pinch collapse, and better agreement with known measured data.