Current switching and mass interpenetration offer enhanced power from nested-array Z pinches

Nested-array Z pinches are concentric, two layer wire assemblies-an exterio r (driver) layer and an interior (target) layer. On the 20-MA Z accelerator they produce record-high x-ray power, 40% over a single array, but the mec hanism of power enhancement remains unclear. The observed kinematics of the nested arrays is best described by a model that allows the drive mass to p enetrate the target mass. At assembly the load filament's mutual inductance requires current to switch rapidly from the drive to the target array.