High energy density physics and high resolution point projection imaging with X-pinch plasmas (invited)

X pinch plasmas, previously developed as a 1.5-10 keV X-ray source for point projection lithography because of their small size, are shown to be high density (> 10/sup 22/ ions/cm/sup 3/), hot (400-1500 eV), transient (< 1 ns lifetime) and < 1 /spl mu/m diameter in some cases. X-pinch plasmas are produced by exploding two 10-50 /spl mu/m metal wires that cross and touch at a single point (in the form of an X) using a 200-400 kA, 100 ns (FWHM) current pulse. A magnetically driven implosion near the original cross point of the wires precedes the emission of one or more sub-ns intense X-ray bursts. Radiographs of the X-pinch implosion process show that a < 300 /spl mu/m long, 100 /spl mu/m diameter Z pinch forms in the region of the original wire cross point about 2 ns before the characteristic X-ray bursts occur. The Z pinch implodes to < 10 /spl mu/m diameter and gaps develop in the radiographic images coincident in time and space with the X-ray burst(s). Our measurements imply that the energy density in these small, transient X-ray sources may be > 10/sup 28/ W/cm/sup 3/. Immediately following the moment of X-ray burst emission, explosive disassembly of the Z pinch occurs on a 1 ns time scale, accompanied by the launching of shockwaves into the surrounding material. Time-resolved spectroscopic measurements using X-ray streak cameras have been initiated.