Title :
Wire-Array Z-Pinch Length Variations for K-Shell X-Ray Generation on Z
Author :
Jones, Brent ; Ampleford, David J. ; Jennings, Christopher A. ; Waisman, Eduardo M. ; Hansen, Stephanie B. ; Coverdale, Christine A. ; Cuneo, Michael E. ; Apruzese, John P. ; Thornhill, J. Ward ; Giuliani, John L. ; Dasgupta, Arati ; Clark, Robert W. ; Da
Author_Institution :
Sandia Nat. Labs., Albuquerque, NM, USA
Abstract :
In developing stainless-steel (SS) and copper wire-array X-ray sources on the Z machine, we consider the optimization of K-shell yield as a function of load height. Theory, numerical modeling, and experimental data suggest that an optimum exists corresponding to a tradeoff between the increase in radiating mass and the decrease in coupled current with increasing pinch height. A typical load height of 20 mm used on many previous Z wire-array X-ray sources is found to be near optimal for K-shell yield production in SS and copper implosions. Electrical data, pinhole imaging, and spectroscopy are used to study plasma conditions in wire-array z pinches corresponding to the variation in K-shell power and yield per unit length as the pinch height is changed from 12 to 24 mm.
Keywords :
Z pinch; copper; numerical analysis; plasma X-ray sources; plasma diagnostics; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; stainless steel; Cu; K-shell X-ray generation; Z machine; Z wire-array X-ray sources; copper implosions; copper wire-array X-ray sources; electrical data; numerical modeling; pinhole imaging; radiating mass; size 20 mm; spectroscopy; stainless-steel implosions; stainless-steel wire-array X-ray sources; wire-array Z-pinch length variations; Anodes; Arrays; Inductance; Load modeling; Plasma temperature; Wires; K-shell radiation; X-ray production; X-ray production.; magnetohydro- dynamics (MHD); magnetohydro-dynamics (MHD); plasma pinch; wire array;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2015.2417052
