eCommons

 

X-PINCH PLASMA DYNAMICS STUDIED WITH HIGH TEMPORAL RESOLUTION DIAGNOSTICS

Other Titles

Abstract

The X-pinch plasma produces extreme material conditions that make it interesting both as a high-energy-density plasma and an x-ray source for imaging. These extreme conditions include high densities (near solid density, 10^23 ions/cm^-3 for Mo), high temperatures (above 2.5 keV for Mo), high energy densities (up to 10^12 J/cm^3), high x-ray power densities (up to 10^22 W/cm^3), small source sizes (which can be less than 1 micron in diameter), and short time scales for the x-ray radiation (less than 100 ps). These extreme conditions are difficult to produce in a laboratory setting and even harder to study. The X-pinch plasma is produced by driving a high current (100-500 kA, 100 ns FWHM pulse for our experiment) through two or more wires that cross at a point forming an "X." A magnetically driven z-pinch forms near the cross point allowing the X-pinch to reliably reproduce the conditions given above. As such, we present a range of experiments designed to study the conditions produced in the X-pinch plasma. Until recently many of the diagnostics used to study the X-pinch have not had the resolution (spatial or temporal) necessary to determine the actual size or duration of the X-pinch x-ray source. We present experimental results showing the temporal extent of the x-ray radiation produced by an X pinch using an x-ray streak camera with better than 10 ps resolution. We also present experiments designed to study the temporal and spatial relationship of the two different radiation sources (thermal and energetic-electron-generated) observed from an X pinch using a filtered diode array. In addition, we studied the plasma dynamics using both a multi-channel 150 ps, 532 nm (Nd:YAG) laser backlighting system and x-ray radiography (using an X pinch as an x-ray source). We correlate the observed plasma parameters (implosion and explosion rate, neck diameter, axial jet propagation speed, and coronal plasma axial modulation wavelength along the X-pinch legs) to wire material.

Journal / Series

Volume & Issue

Description

Sponsorship

Date Issued

2007-05-02T19:32:33Z

Publisher

Keywords

X pinch; plasma; x-ray

Location

Effective Date

Expiration Date

Sector

Employer

Union

Union Local

NAICS

Number of Workers

Committee Chair

Committee Co-Chair

Committee Member

Degree Discipline

Degree Name

Degree Level

Related Version

Related DOI

Related To

Related Part

Based on Related Item

Has Other Format(s)

bibid: 6476306

Part of Related Item

Related To

Related Publication(s)

Link(s) to Related Publication(s)

References

Link(s) to Reference(s)

Previously Published As

Government Document

ISBN

ISMN

ISSN

Other Identifiers

Rights

Rights URI

Types

dissertation or thesis

Accessibility Feature

Accessibility Hazard

Accessibility Summary

Link(s) to Catalog Record