Radial wire array Z-pinches as a novel, compact x-ray source

Wire array z-pinches are the world´s most powerful laboratory X-ray source, however the large volume required for them to work efficiently requires the use of a large hohlraum for inertial confinement fusion applications. This hohlraum size limits the temperature achievable using present pulsed power capabilities. Whilst work is continuing to improve the efficiency of cylindrical wire arrays, an alternative is to use an array configuration that is better suited to a smaller hohlraum. Radial wire arrays have been shown to have similar emitted power and radiated energy to cylindrical wire arrays, however occupy a volume which is a factor of >4 smaller. We will discuss plans for radial wire array experiments on the multi-MA Saturn facility at Sandia, along with the results of MHD simulations and initial data.