Investigation of X-ray emission as a function of wire number and material using a compact 80 kA current generator

Summary form only given. Results are presented from a compact X-pinch pulser (I~80 kA, risetime ~40 ns). Various wire materials, (tungsten, molybdenum, nickel, stainless steel, and aluminum), number of wires, (2, 3, 4), and thickness (from 5 mum-13 mum) were used. The overall mass per unit length was kept constant. A variety of diagnostics including, laser probing, X-ray framing camera, a set of seven PIN diodes and pinhole camera was used. Information about X-ray spectrum, X-ray pulse length, and X-ray spot size was obtained. The X-pinch consisting of four, 5 mum tungsten wires, showed higher X-ray characteristics with an X-ray energy spectrum from 1-10 keV, spot size <2 mum and an X-ray pulse duration less than 2 ns. For molybdenum X-pinches, the coronal plasma around the wires was observed to merge resulting in a current channel between the electrodes forming a Z-pinch