Radiographic and spectroscopic studies of X-pinch plasma implosion dynamics and x-ray burst emission characteristics

Experimental results are presented from studies of the dynamics of X-pinch plasmas, formed using two fine wires that cross and touch at a single point (in the form of an X) as the load of a high current pulser. High-resolutio n (sub-ns in time and 2-3 mum in space) x-ray radiographs of X pinches driv en by current pulses that rise to 200-250 kA peak current in 40 ns show tha t less than or equal to 300 mum long Z pinches form in the region of the or iginal wire cross-point a few ns prior to the first sub-ns intense x-ray bu rsts that are characteristic of an X pinch. The Z pinches implode to less t han or equal to 10 mum diam and then appear to develop gaps in the radiogra phic images in one or two places, coincident in time with the x-ray burst(s ). The emission spectra of the intense x-ray bursts from different wire mat erials indicate electron temperatures of 500-1300 eV and densities in exces s of 10(22)/cm(3). (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.