3-dimensional modeling of nested Al and Ni-clad Ti on Al wire array Z pinches

Summary form only given. Large diameter nested wire array z-pinches imploded on the Z-generator at Sandia National Laboratories have been used to generate high intensity K-shell radiation. Previous experiments have used different materials between the inner and outer array to allow radiation emitted during the implosion and stagnation to provide some insight into the structure of the imploding plasma and the way in which the different arrays participate in the implosion. We present 3D-resistive MHD calculations of the implosion and stagnation of mixed material nested wire arrays, one array being Al and the other being Ni-clad Ti, imploded on the Z generator pre-refurbishment. These implosions are compared and contrasted with recent single material Al array implosions. Calculation results are compared to pinhole images, spectroscopic measurements, and radiated powers and yields to constrain and validate our 3D MHD calculations. Through reproducing synthetic diagnostics from calculation results we investigate how plasma structure and implosion dynamics effect diagnostic interpretation. Utilizing the different radiative properties of the different materials, and contrasting the behavior of different loads we can gain some insight into the stagnation mechanisms that potentially drive the high intensity, high photon energy radiation. This allows us to further our understanding of how these sources may be better optimized.