High energy density z-pinch plasma conditions with picosecond time resolution

• Published in: Physical review letters Vol. 89; no. 3; p. 035003
• Main Authors: Pikuz, S A, Sinars, D B, Shelkovenko, T A, Chandler, K M, Hammer, D A, Ivanenkov, G V, Stepniewski, W, Skobelev, I Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.07.2002
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.035003

Using an X-pinch configuration, we have determined that micropinches produced by exploding-wire z pinches can have densities approaching solid density and temperatures of 0.5-1.8 keV, depending upon the wire material used. These plasma parameters, determined from x-ray spectra recorded using an x-ray streak camera, vary drastically on time scales ranging from <10 to 100 ps. Computer simulations require radiation loss to reproduce the observed plasma implosion, suggesting that a radiative-collapse hypothesis for micropinch plasma formation may be correct.