Spatial, temporal, and spectral characteristics of an X pinch

An X pinch plasma is produced by exploding two 10-50 tm diameter metal wire s that cross and touch at a single point (in the form an X) using a 200-400 kA, 100 ns full-width at half-maximum current pulse. Near the original cro ss point of the wires a magnetically driven implosion occurs, and one or mo re less than or equal to 1 ns intense X-ray radiation bursts are generated. In particular, a Mo X pinch emits similar to 100 mJ of radiation in the 3- 5 keV spectral band in less than or equal to 100 ps, and the spatial scale of the source is about 1 mum, indicating a volume-power density in excess o f 10(21) W/cm(3). X pinch-generated X-ray bursts have been studied using se veral experimental techniques with high time and space resolution. Prelimin ary results of time-resolved spectroscopy of the X pinch plasma are present ed, including a discussion of the temporal behavior of line and continuum r adiation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.