Multi-wire Z pinch experiments

We report recent results on multi-wire Z-pinch experiments using Cornell´s XP pulsed power generator (400kA peak current, 100ns). Planar Al wire arrays were studied. A global magnetic field was provided by the return current path, which was located ∼2.5mm above the array. Two channels of shearing interferometer separated by 20ns and an x-ray backlighter were used for diagnostics. The velocity of the plasma driven by the global field, the merging velocity toward the array center and wire expansion velocity were measured.