A Review of the Total Radiated Output of an Argon Z-Pinch Using the Z Radiation Simulator
Abstract
Sze et.al.(Ref. 1) described the use of an 8 cm diameter double shell nozzle that produced over 270 kJ of argon K-shell emission (>3 keV) on the Z generator at >15 MA peak current. A striking feature seen in those tests was a sharp decrease in K-yield with increasing load mass, but very weak changes in total yield. We will report additional measurements made on those tests that address the non-K-line output of the z-pinches. On the one hand, >5 keV photons due to the free-bound continuum can constitute a significant fraction of the nominal K-shell emission (Ref. 2). On the other hand, the sub-keV L-shell fluence seems to vary little as the K-emission changes substantially. We examine whether the latter data shed light on the cause of the drastic reduction of the K-shell yield for high mass loads. Comparisons will be made between the observations, analytical models and 1D radiation-hydrodynamics MHD code predictions. 1. H. Sze, et.al., Phys. Plasmas, 8, 3135 (2001). 2. A. Velikovich, et.al., Phys. Plasmas 8, 4509 (2001).
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..DPPUO1008C