Title :
Argon Z-pinch implosions on Phoenix
Author :
Fisher, Amnon ; Peterson, Garrett ; Nolting, E. ; Miles, Lowell ; Miller, Jason ; Kenyon, V. ; Spicer, W. ; Warnock, F. ; Krishnan, Mohan ; Prasad, Ranga ; Rondeau, G. ; Fockler, J. ; Spence, P. ; Corcoran, Peter
Author_Institution :
Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA
Abstract :
Summary form only given, as follows. Upgrades to the Phoenix front end have resulted in a three-fold increase in Argon K-shell X-ray yields. Lack of a transit time isolator between the center conductor and ground necessitated powering the gas-puff hardware with batteries and supplying control via fiber optic cables. A simple gas flow model was developed to optimize the valve/nozzle design. The gas-puff valve and nozzle were modified to produce a 250-/spl mu/s density rise time. This short rise-time allowed firing on the gas plateau which improved reproducibility. Front end power flow was improved by opening the MITL from 8 to 10-mm and by increasing the dog-leg at the nozzle to obstruct UV light. The highest yield shots were achieved with a 4-cm long load using a 3.5-cm mean diameter nozzle with a mean inward tilt of 13.75 degrees. X-ray pulse widths ranged between 7-15 ns and X-ray pinhole photos suggest uniform assembly on axis. Results and documentation of the Phoenix upgrades are presented.
Keywords :
X-ray production; Z pinch; argon; explosions; flow; plasma diagnostics; plasma flow; plasma production; plasma properties; 250 mus; 8 to 10 mm; Ar; K-shell X-ray yields; Phoenix front end; Phoenix upgrades; X-ray pinhole photos; X-ray pulse widths; density rise time; fiber optic cables; gas flow model; gas plateau; gas-puff hardware; gas-puff valve; transit time isolator; valve/nozzle design; yield shots; Argon; Batteries; Conductors; Fluid flow; Hardware; Isolators; Optical control; Optical fiber cables; Optical fibers; Valves;
Conference_Titel :
Plasma Science, 1995. IEEE Conference Record - Abstracts., 1995 IEEE International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Madison, WI, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2669-5
DOI :
10.1109/PLASMA.1995.533265