Results of radius scaling experiments and analysis of neon K-shellradiation data from an inductively driven Z-pinch

The K-shell radiated energy (yield) from neon Z-pinch implosions with annular, gas-puff nozzle radii of 1, 1.75, and 2.5 cm was measured for implosion times from 50 to 300 ns while systematically keeping the implosion kinetic energy nearly constant. The implosions were driven by the Hawk inductive-storage generator at the 0.65-MA level. Initial neutral-neon density distributions from the nozzles were determined with laser interferometry. Measured yields are compared with predictions from zero-dimensional (0-D) scaling models of ideal. One-dimensional (1-D) pinch behavior to both benchmark the scaling models, and to determine their utility for predicting K-shell yields for argon implosions of 200 to >300 ns driven by corresponding currents of 4 to 9 MA, such as envisioned for the DECADE QUAD. For all three nozzles, the 0-D models correctly predict the Z-pinch mass for maximum yield. For the 1and 1.75-cm radius nozzles, the scaling models accurately match the measured yields if the ratio of initial to final radius (compression ratio) is assumed to be 8:1. For the 2.5-cm radius nozzle, the measured yields are only one-third of the predictions. Analysis of K-shell spectral measurements suggest that as much as 70% (50%) of the imploded mass is radiating in the K-shell for the 1-cm (1.75-cm) radius nozzle. That fraction is only 10% for the 2.5-cm radius nozzle. The 0-D scaling models are useful for predicting 1-D-like K-shell radiation yields (better than a factor-of-two accuracy) when a nominal (≈10:1) compression ratio is assumed. However, the compression ratio assumed in the models is only an “effective” quantity, so that further interpretations based on the 0-D analysis require additional justification. The lower-than-predicted yield for the 2.5-cm radius nozzle is associated with larger radius and not with longer implosion time, and is probably a result of two-dimensional effects     

Spectroscopic diagnosis of nested-wire-array dynamics and interpenetration at 7 MA

Nested-wire array experiments have been conducted at the 7 MA level with 150 ns implosion times from an outer diameter of 40 mm. Analysis of spectral data indicates that material from the outer array preferentially occupies the high temperature core of the stagnated pinch independent of the interwire gap in the range of 1.1 to 4.5 mm.     

Recombination lasing in heliumlike silicon: a possible path to thewater window

A major goal of current X-ray laser research is the achievement of gain in the 23.3-43.7 Å wavelength region, known as the `water window'. Silicon is the lowest atomic number element for which all the heliumlike 3-2 transitions lie in this region. The authors examine the fundamental kinetics of recombination lasing in this species, and conclude that the Si XIII 1s3d¹D ₂-1s2p¹P₁ line at 39.1 Å is an attractive candidate for recombination-pumped lasing. Attainment of gain in this line is somewhat more energetically favorable than for the hydrogenic Al XIII 3-2 transitions, but radiative trapping may be somewhat more troublesome than for H-like Al     

Ion viscous heating in a magnetohydrodynamically unstable Z pinch at over 2 x 10(9) Kelvin

Pulsed power driven metallic wire-array Z pinches are the most powerful and efficient laboratory x-ray sources. Furthermore, under certain conditions the soft x-ray energy radiated in a 5 ns pulse at stagnation can exceed the estimated kinetic energy of the radial implosion phase by a factor of 3 to 4. A theoretical model is developed here to explain this, allowing the rapid conversion of magnetic energy to a very high ion temperature plasma through the generation of fine scale, fast-growing m = 0 interchange MHD instabilities at stagnation. These saturate nonlinearly and provide associated ion viscous heating. Next the ion energy is transferred by equipartition to the electrons and thus to soft x-ray radiation. Recent time-resolved iron spectra at Sandia confirm an ion temperature Ti of over 200 keV (2 x 10(9) degrees), as predicted by theory. These are believed to be record temperatures for a magnetically confined plasma.     

Some effects of radiative and collisional broadening on line emission in a spherical,laser-heated plasma

We have generalized our treatment of resonance-line radiation from a spherical, laser-heated plasma by including the effects of radiative and collisional line broadening in representing the line-emission and absorption profiles by a Voigt function. We find that the emitted profiles are broadened by factors of five or more, depending on the magnitude of the damping constant. It is also shown that the Al(XIII) to Al(XII) line ratios are seriously affected by the different escape probabilities associated with Doppler and Voigt profiles. We also find that plasma cooling via resonance-line radiation is accelerated relative to that calculated with a pure Doppler profile, and that use of the Voigt profile decreases the density of excited states relative to the Doppler values. These phenomena are analyzed in terms of the differing profile shapes and widths.     

Optimal wire-number range for high x-ray power in long-implosion-time aluminum Z pinches

Experiments performed on the 8-MA Saturn accelerator to investigate the effects of interwire gap spacing on long-implosion-time Z pinches have resulted in the observation of a regime of optimal wire number. The experiments varied the wire number of 40 and 32 mm diam arrays, resulting in interwire gaps from 3.9 to 0.36 mm, with fixed mass and length. aluminum K-shell powers up to 3.4 TW were measured, with long, slow rising, lower power x-ray pulses for interwire gaps greater than 2.2 mm and less than 0.7 mm, and short, fast rising, higher power pulses for interwire gaps in the range 0.7-2.2 mm.     

Direct solution of the equation of transfer using frequency- and angle-averaged photon-escape probabilities for spherical and cylindrical geometries

A previously developed technique for solving the transfer equation directly by using frequency-and angle-averaged escape probabilities in a planar, Doppler-broadened medium is generalized to encompass spherical and cylindrical geometries, as well as a Lorentz opacity profile. Two key elements permit this generalization to be made. The first is a reciprocity theorem relating the coupling constant from cell i to cell j to that from cell j to cell i. The second is the use of a universal but accurate mean angle of diffusivity.     

Opacity broadening as a density diagnostic for spot spectroscopy

A significant advantage of the recently developed spot spectroscopy techniques for plasma diagnostics is that the blowoff resulting from the tracer dots originally imbedded in the target has a well-characterized size. The helium-like resonance line 1s²?1s 2p¹P may have appreciable optical depth in these blowoff regions, especially near the original target surface. The observed width of this line is largely determined by opacity broadening, which depends directly on the density. Calculations are presented for aluminum, which allow density determination as a function of measured line width. Scaling of the calculations to tracer elements other than aluminum is also discussed.