Experimental verification of the effect of different preionization systemson the implosion dynamics of an argon double gas puff

Experiments are reported on the implosion of argon double gas puffs in the GIT-12 current generator (T-fr = 0.25 mus, I-m = 2.3 MA). The gas-puff medi um was preionized by different methods. The experimental data provide evide nce for a strong effect of the initial conditions for the formation of the current-carrying shell on the implosion process. Emphasis is given to a dis cussion of the following issues: the enhanced scatter in both the emission power and X-ray yield in the Ar K-lines, the existence of a large number of current filaments, the uncertainty in the process by which the generator c urrent is redistributed among a progressively smaller number of current fil aments, and the redistribution of the generator current between the inner a nd outer gas-puff shells. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".