Modeling of K-shell Al and Mg radiation from compact single, double planar and cylindrical alloyed Al wire array plasmas produced on the 1 MA Zebra generator at UNR

Radiative emission from alloyed Al single, double and compact cylindrical wire arrays have been studied using the 1 MA Zebra UNR generator. Single planar wire arrays using ten wires and double planar wire arrays and compact cylindrical wire arrays (CCWA) that both had sixteen wires were utilized. The wire composition is Al-5056 (95% of Al and 5% of Mg). We have observed that implosion of these alloyed Al wire loads generated optically thick Al plasmas that can be diagnosed using K-shell Mg lines. In particular, among the considered loads, the K-shell lines of Al from implosions of the double planar wire arrays have the highest optical depth for He-like Al resonance transitions, which occurred near the stagnation phase. X-ray time-gated and time-integrated spectra and pinhole images as well as photoconductive detectors signals were analyzed to provide information on the plasma parameters; electron temperatures and densities, implosion dynamics features and power and yields of the X-ray radiation. Previously developed non-LTE models were applied to model axially-resolved time-integrated, as well as time-gated spatially-integrated, K-shell spectra from Al and Mg. The derived time-dependent electron temperature, density and axial opacity were studied and compared. In addition, the wire ablation dynamics model (WADM) was used to calculate the kinetic energy of the plasma, which with the aid of a Local Thermal Equilibrium (LTE) magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) simulation, allowed to estimate the precursor and stagnated z-pinch plasma electron temperatures from implosions of wire array loads.     

Implosion characteristics and applications of combined tungsten–aluminum Z-pinch planar arrays

An exploration of the implosion properties and X-ray radiation pulses from tungsten-based planar wire array Z-pinch experiments is presented, with an emphasis on loads mixed with aluminum. These experiments were carried out on Zebra, the 1.0 MA pulse power generator at the Nevada Terawatt Facility. A suite of diagnostics was used to study these plasmas, including X-ray and EUV Si diodes, optical imaging, laser shadowgraphy, and time-gated and time-integrated X-ray pinhole imagers and spectrometers. Specifically, loads with relatively large inter-wire gaps where tungsten is placed in the center of a planar configuration composed primarily of aluminum showed unusual characteristics. These loads are shown to generate a “bubbling” effect in which plasma from the ablation of outer aluminum wires is temporarily hindered from converging at the center of the array where the tungsten wire is located. Reproduction of these experiments with variations to load geometry, materials, and mass distribution are also presented and discussed in an attempt to better understand the phenomenon. In addition, a theoretical model has also been applied to better understand the dynamics of the implosions of these loads. Applications of this effect to radiation pulse shaping, particularly with multi-planar arrays, are also discussed.     

WADM and radiation MHD simulations of compact multi-planar and cylindrical wire arrays at 1 MA currents

The radiative performance of Z-pinches created by the imploding wire array loads is defined by the ablation and implosion dynamics of these loads. Both these processes can be effectively modeled by the Wire Ablation Dynamics Model (WADM), which extends the formalism exploited earlier for the cylindrical wire arrays to the loads of arbitrary geometries. The WADM calculates the ablation rates for each array wire and provides the important dynamic parameters, such as the specific mass and velocity of the imploding plasma, which can be used to estimate the shapes of the x-ray pre-pulse and, partially, the main x-ray burst. The applications of the WADM also extend to combined material wire array loads. The ablation and implosion dynamics of novel Prism Planar Wire Array (PPWA) and combined material (Mo/Al/Mo) Triple Planar Wire Array (TPWA) loads are discussed in detail. The combined WADM and radiation MHD simulation is applied to model the radiative performance of the precursor plasma column, created by the imploding stainless steel compact cylindrical wire array. As the radiation effects intensify with the mass accumulation at the array center, the simulation reveals the transformation of quasi-uniform precursor column into a heterogeneous plasma structure with strong density and temperature gradients. We find that radiative performance of the precursor plasma is greatly affected by the load geometry as well as by the wire material.     

X-ray absorption spectroscopy for wire-array Z-pinches at the non-radiative stage

Absorption spectroscopy was applied to wire-array Z-pinches on the 1 MA pulsed-power Zebra generator at the Nevada Terawatt Facility (NTF). The 50 TW Leopard laser was coupled with the Zebra generator for X-ray backlighting of wire arrays at the ablation stage. Broadband X-ray emission from a laser-produced Sm plasma was used to backlight Al star wire arrays in the range of 7–9 Å. Two time-integrated X-ray conical spectrometers recorded reference and absorption spectra. The spectrometers were shielded from the bright Z-pinch X-ray burst by collimators. The comparison of plasma-transmitted spectra with reference spectra indicates absorption lines in the range of 8.1–8.4 Å. Analysis of Al K-shell absorption spectra with detailed atomic kinetics models shows a distribution of electron temperature in the range of 10–30 eV that was fitted with an effective two-temperature model. Temperature and density distributions in wire-array plasma were simulated with a three-dimension magneto-hydrodynamic code. Post-processing of this code’s output yields synthetic transmission spectrum which is in general agreement with the data.     

Radiative properties of mixed nested cylindrical wire arrays on Zebra at UNR

The dynamics of mixed nested cylindrical wire arrays were studied at the UNR Zebra generator with our existing theoretical and experimental tools to better understand the contributions of each array to the emitted radiation. In particular, experimental results of mixed brass (70% Cu, 30% Zn) and Al (5056, 5% Mg) nested cylindrical wire arrays are analyzed and compared. The loads used brass in the inner array and Al in the outer array, or alternately, Al in the inner array and brass in the outer array, with a mass ratio of 1:1 (outer to inner). Consequently, radiative properties of K-shell Al and Mg ions and L-shell Cu and Zn ions are compared as functions of the placements of the brass and Al wires on the inner and outer arrays. Results show that the placement of brass and Al, whether on the inner or outer array, dramatically affects the intensity of the X-ray emission. Specifically, the ratio of Cu L-shell to Al K-shell emissions changed from 4 when Al is in the outer array to 40 when brass is in the outer array, and the total radiated yield was highest when the brass was on the outer array (18 kJ, versus 15 kJ when brass is on the inner array). Each load was fielded twice to vary the timing of the time-gated imaging and spectral diagnostics. This provides a more complete understanding of the evolution of the plasma parameters over the X-ray pulse and highlights the importance of the time-gated diagnostics.     

A review of new wire arrays with open and closed magnetic configurations at the 1.6 MA Zebra generator for radiative properties and opacity effects

The studies emphasize investigation of plasma formation, implosion, and radiation features as a function of two load configurations: compact multi-planar and cylindrical wire arrays. Experiments with different Z-pinch loads were performed on 1.6 MA, 100 ns, Zebra generator at University of Nevada, Reno. The multi-planar wire arrays (PWAs) were studied in open and closed configurations with Al, Cu, brass, Mo and W wires. In the open magnetic configurations (single, double, triple PWAs) magnetic fields are present inside the arrays from the beginning of discharge, while in closed configurations (prism-like PWA) the global magnetic field is excluded inside before plasma flow occurs. The new prism-like PWA allows high flexibility in control of implosion dynamics and precursor formation. The spectral modeling, magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) and wire ablation dynamic model (WADM) codes were used to describe the plasma evolution and plasma parameters. Experimentally observed electron temperature and density in multiple bright spots reached 1.4 keV and 5 × 10²¹ cm^?3, respectively. Two types of bright spots were observed. With peak currents up to 1.3 MA opacity effects became more pronounced and led to a limiting of the X-ray yields from compact cylindrical arrays. Despite different magnetic energy to plasma coupling mechanisms early in the implosion a comparison of compact double PWA and cylindrical WA results indicates that during the stagnation stage the same plasma heating mechanism may occur. The double PWA was found to be the best radiator tested at University scale 1 MA generator. It is characterized by a combination of larger yield and power, mm-scale size, and provides the possibility of radiation pulse shaping. Further, the newer configuration, the double PWA with skewed wires, was tested and showed the possibility of a more effective X-ray generation.     

Simulation of converging cylindrical GPa-range shock waves generated by wire array underwater electrical explosions

Results of one-dimensional numerical simulations of the parameters of the converging strong shock wave generated by electrical underwater explosions of a cylindrical wire array with different array radii and different deposited energies are presented. It was shown that for each wire array radius there exists an optimal duration of the energy deposition into the exploding array, which allows one to maximize the shock wave pressure and temperature in the vicinity of the implosion axis. The simulation results agree well with the 130-GPa pressure in the vicinity of the implosion axis that was recently obtained, which strongly indicates the azimuthal symmetry of the converging shock wave at these extreme conditions. Also, simulations showed that using a pulsed power generator with a stored energy of ~200 kJ, the pressure and temperature at the shock wave front reaches ~220 GPa and 1.7 eV at 0.1 mm from the axis of implosion in the case of a 2.5 mm radius wire array explosion. It was found that, in spite of the complicated equation of state of water, the maximum pressure at the shock wave front at radius r can be estimated as P ≈ (P*(r*/r) ^α , where P* is the known value of pressure at the shock wave front at radius r* ≥ r and α is a parameter that equals 0.62±0.02. A rough estimate of the implosion parameters of the hydrogen target after the interaction with the converging strong shock wave is presented as well.     

Spectroscopic analysis of Cu wire array implosions on the refurbished Z generator

Experimental investigations of pinches on the refurbished Z (ZR) generator using Cu arrays have been initiated and more are planned for the near future. Significant X-ray emissions in the K-shell from moderately high atomic number plasmas such as Cu generate extreme interest. However, the production of these hard photons from high Z materials comes with a price. There is substantial loss of radiative yield due to stripping through many electrons present in high Z materials to reach to the H- or He-like ionization stages. Production of hard X-rays for materials with atomic number higher than Cu such as Kr is very difficult and theoretical predictions are even more uncertain. Previous experimental efforts using Cu as a plasma pinch load are encouraging and promote further investigations of this element on the refurbished Z machine for achieving photon energies higher than 5 keV and obtaining sufficient radiative yield. We will analyze the ionization dynamics and generate Cu spectrum using the temperature and density conditions obtained from 1-D non-LTE radiation hydrodynamics simulations of Cu wire array implosions on ZR. These results will be compared with K- and L-shell experimental spectrum of shot Z 1975. Theoretical K- and L-shell spectroscopy provides validation of atomic and plasma modeling when compared to available experimental data and also provides useful diagnostics for the plasma parameters. Our self-consistently generated non-LTE collisional-radiative model employs an extensive atomic level structure and data for all dominant atomic processes that are necessary to model accurately the pinch dynamics and the spectroscopic details of the emitted radiation.     

Investigation of characteristics of hard x-rays produced during implosions of wire array loads on 1.6 MA Zebra generator

Experimental study of the characteristics of hard x-ray (HXR) emission from multi-planar wire arrays and compact-cylindrical wire arrays (CCWA) plasmas on the 1.6 MA Zebra generator at UNR has been carried out. The characteristics of HXR produced by multi-planar wire arrays such as single, double, and triple planar as well as compact-cylindrical wire arrays made from Al, Cu, brass, Mo, and W were analyzed. Data from spatially resolved time-integrated and spatially integrated time-gated x-ray spectra recorded by LiF spectrometers, x-ray pinhole images, and signals from fast x-ray detectors have been used to study spatial distribution and time history of HXR emission with different loads. The dependence of the HXR yield and power on the wire material, geometry of the load and load mass is observed. Both HXR yield and power are minimum for Al and maximum for W loads. The HXR yield increases with the rise of the atomic number of the material for all loads. The presence of aluminum wires in the load with the main material such as Cu, Mo, or W in combined wire arrays decreases HXR yield. For W plasma, the intensity of cold L-shell spectral lines (1–1.5 Å) correlates with corresponding amplitude of HXR signals which may suggest the evidence of generation of electron beams in plasma. It is found that HXRs are generated from different plasma regions by the interaction of electron-beam with the plasma trailing mass, with the material of anode and due to thermal radiation from plasma bright spots. The theoretical assumption of thermal mechanism of HXR emission predicts the different trends for dependency of HXR power on atomic number and load mass.     

Time-gated measurements of electron beam generated Kα emission lines from brass planar wire array implosions

The relative amount of Kα radiation emitted by partially ionized copper and zinc from planar wire arrays on the 1 MA Zebra generator at the University of Nevada, Reno, does not correspond to the composition (70% copper, 30% zinc) of the array's brass wires. For example, the copper Kα line at 8 keV was observed to be much stronger than would be expected from zinc's Kα radiation at 8.6 keV, but this ratio also reversed, more emission from zinc than from copper, during the X-ray pulse. An excess of Kα photons from copper is consistent with a beam of electrons with energies above copper's K-edge but below that of zinc, but the opposite case is perplexing. Preferential ablation of Zn over Cu early in the current pulse could be a contributing factor, but opacity effects are not. Synthetic spectra for brass computed by a non-LTE collisional-radiative model that includes an electron beam component compare well with observed K-shell spectra, and suggest the parent ions of the Kα emission. These ionization stages are consistent with L-shell spectra. This comparison also indicates that the total energy in the electron beam increases towards the end of the radiation pulse while the electron temperature decreases. The crucial diagnostic in this measurement is a time-resolved X-ray spectrometer based on a LiF crystal.     

Argon K-shell and bound-free emission from OMEGA direct-drive implosion cores

We discuss calculations of synthetic spectra for the interpretation and analysis of K-shell and bound-free emission from argon-doped deuterium-filled OMEGA direct-drive implosion cores. The spectra are computed using a model that considers collisional-radiative atomic kinetics, continuum-lowering, detailed Stark-broadened line shapes, line overlapping, and radiation transport effects. The photon energy range covers the moderately optically thick n = 3 → n = 1 and n = 4 → n = 1 line transitions in He- and H-like Ar, their associated satellite lines in Li- and He-like Ar, and several radiative recombination edges. At the high-densities characteristic of implosion cores, the radiative recombination edges substantially shift to lower energies thus overlapping with several line transitions. We discuss the application of the spectra to spectroscopic analysis of doped implosion cores.     

Opacity and radiative power losses calculations

In this contribution we present results on opacity and radiative power losses in laser-produced plasmas. We focus our attention on the inner shell transition array 1s–2p in an aluminum plasma. At high densities, electron, Doppler and ion Stark broadening play a role in line merging. This is why the PPP line-shape code developed at Université de Provence was adapted to calculate opacity and radiative power losses in Al and Ge ions. Atomic physics data required in PPP calculations is provided by an MCDF code. Comparison with experiments is discussed.     

Spectroscopic observations of Fermi-degenerate aluminum compressed and heated to four times solid density and 20 eV

Shock waves generated by temporally shaped laser ablation compressed and heated Al to ρ = 11 ± 5 g/cm³ and 20 ± 2 eV. The inferred density and temperature demonstrate that highly compressed, Fermi-degenerate plasma can be created by tuning the temporal pulse shape of the laser drive intensity. The density and temperature of these plastic-tamped Al plasmas in the warm dense matter regime were diagnosed using the Stark-broadened, Al 1s–2p absorption spectral line shapes. These observations represent the forefront of opacity measurements for warm dense matter and are important for high energy density physics and inertial confinement fusion.     

基于Z箍缩X射线源的热-力学效应实验

材料或结构对强脉冲X射线的响应如热激波的传播和喷射冲量等,统称为X射线热-力学效应,在抗辐射加固研究、天体物理、行星科学等领域具有重要应用。利用驱动电流近10 MA脉冲功率装置上的丝阵Z箍缩X射线源开展了初步的热-力学效应实验。采用20 mm直径的双层铝丝阵产生了约230 kJ的X射线总辐射能,其中铝的K壳层产额约为30 kJ,距离源中心5 cm处的样品上的X射线能注量为732 J/cm2。受辐照样品为厚度2 mm、直径10 mm的铝制圆盘,其背面设置有铝衬套,样品与衬套的总质量为585 mg。采用全光纤光子多普勒测速（PDV）系统来测量受辐照样品后表面的运动过程。PDV测量的样品后表面速度历程显示,当热激波到达后表面时的自由面速度为2.12 km/s,样品最终的整体运动速度为180 m/s。根据冲击波关系式以及动量守恒原理,推导出X射线在样品中产生的热激波应力为19.2 GPa,单位面积上的喷射冲量为1341 Pa·s,进而由喷射冲量和X射线能注量测量结果可以推出冲量耦合系数为1.83 Pa·s·cm2/J。同时,对实验测量结果的可靠性和不确定度进行了讨论和分析。这些实验结果初步验证了将PDV技术应用于热-力学效应研究的可行性。     

Tungsten L transition line shapes and energy shifts resulting from ionization in warm dense matter

Spectra of the W L transitions in the energy range 8–12 keV from warm dense plasmas generated by the Naval Research Laboratory's Gamble II pulsed power machine were recorded by a newly developed high-resolution transmission-crystal X-ray spectrometer with ±2 eV accuracy. The discharges have up to 2 MV voltage, 0.5 MA current, and produce up to 2.4 MJ/cm^?3 energy density. The plasma-filled rod pinch (PFRP) diode produces a plasma with N_e ≈ 10²² cm^?3 and T_e ≈ 50 eV during the time of maximum X-ray emission. By analyzing the line shapes, it was determined that the Lβ₂ inner-shell transition from the 4d_5/2 level was shifted to higher energy by up to 23 eV relative to nearby Lβ transitions from n = 3 levels. In addition, the Lβ₂ transition was significantly broader and asymmetric compared to the n = 3 transitions. The energy shift of the Lβ₂ transition results from the ionization of electrons outside the 4d shell that perturbs the transition energies in the ions to higher values. The increased line width and asymmetry result from unresolved transitions from a range of ionization states up to +28. The ionization distribution was determined by comparison of the measured energy shifts and widths to calculated transition energies in W ions, and the ionization was correlated with Gamble discharge parameters such as the anode type and the high voltage delay time. This work demonstrates a new hard X-ray spectroscopic diagnostic technique for the direct measurement of the ionization distribution in warm dense plasmas of the heavy elements W through U that is independent of the other plasma parameters and does not require interpretation by hydrodynamic, atomic kinetics, and radiative simulation codes.     

The production and evolution of multiple converging radiative shock waves in gas-filled cylindrical liner z-pinch experiments

A cylindrical liner z-pinch configuration has been used to drive converging radiative shock waves into different gases. On application of a 1.4 MA, 240 ns rise-time current pulse, a series of cylindrical shocks moving at typical velocities of 20 km s^?1 are consecutively launched from the inside liner wall into an initially static gas-fill of density ～10^?5 g cm^?3. The drive current skin depth calculated prior to resistive heating was slightly less than the liner wall thickness and no bulk liner implosion occurred. Axial laser probing images show the shock fronts to be smooth and azimuthally symmetric, with instabilities developing downstream of each shock. Evidence for a radiative precursor ahead of the first shock was seen in laser interferometry imaging and time-gated, spatially resolved optical spectroscopy. The interferometry diagnostic was able to simultaneously resolve the radiative precursor and the density jumps at the shock fronts. Optical streak photography provided information on shock timing and shock trajectories and was used to gain insight into the shock launching mechanisms.     

Soft X-ray scattering using FEL radiation for probing near-solid density plasmas at few electron volt temperatures

We report on soft X-ray scattering experiments on cryogenic hydrogen and simple metal samples. As a source of intense, ultrashort soft X-ray pulses we have used free-electron laser radiation at 92 eV photon energy from FLASH at DESY, Hamburg. X-ray pulses with energies up to 150 μJ and durations 15–50 fs provide interaction with the sample leading simultaneously to plasma formation and scattering. Experiments exploiting both of these interactions have been carried out, using the same experimental setup. Firstly, recording of soft X-ray inelastic scattering from near-solid density hydrogen plasmas at few electron volt temperatures confirms the feasibility of this diagnostics technique. Secondly, the soft X-ray excitation of few electron volt solid-density plasmas in bulk metal samples could be studied by recording soft X-ray line and continuum emission integrated over emission times from fs to ns.     

Fracture strength for a high strength steel bridge cable wire with a surface crack

In this paper, the fracture strength of a cracked suspension bridge wire is determined based on linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). The wire is 5 mm in diameter, with an original ultimate strength of 1725 MPa and ultimate elongation that ranges between 5.5% and 6%. The average value of for the wire fracture toughness, K_C, was recently evaluated by the author. The state of practice is to use the ultimate strength of the cracked wire as obtained from tensile tests. This approach may overestimate the strength of the wire due to possible delamination and crack tip plasticity. A case study for a group of in situ wire breaks retrieved from a suspension bridge cable is presented. The failure analysis is performed based on both the fracture toughness criterion and the net section theory. The fracture toughness criterion produced more realistic results for the fracture strength of the wire. The decline in the fracture toughness and the corresponding reduction in the fracture strength of cracked degraded wire are predicted making use of the strain energy density criterion.     

Critical datasets for benchmarking atomic codes: Calibrated line intensities emitted by well-diagnosed solar plasmas

The accuracy of available spectral codes is dependent on the quality of the atomic data and transition rates that they include, and can only be tested by benchmarking predicted line emissivities with observations from plasmas whose physical properties are known with precision. In the present work we describe a few high-resolution spectra emitted by solar flare plasmas under condition of ionization equilibrium, and one quiet Sun off-disk region spectrum, and we propose these datasets as benchmarks for the assessment of the accuracy of existing spectral codes in the 1.84–1.90 Å and 3.17–3.22 Å X-ray ranges and in the 500–1600 Å far ultraviolet range.