High Energy Density <span class="aps-inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi mathvariant="italic">Z</mi></math></span>-Pinch Plasma Conditions with Picosecond Time Resolution

S. A. Pikuz; D. B. Sinars; T. A. Shelkovenko; K. M. Chandler; D. A. Hammer; G. V. Ivanenkov; W. Stepniewski; I. Yu. Skobelev

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.035003

High Energy Density $Z$ -Pinch Plasma Conditions with Picosecond Time Resolution

S. A. Pikuz, D. B. Sinars, T. A. Shelkovenko, K. M. Chandler, D. A. Hammer, G. V. Ivanenkov, W. Stepniewski, and I. Yu. Skobelev

Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 035003 – Published 27 June 2002

Abstract

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.

Received 1 November 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.035003

Authors & Affiliations

S. A. Pikuz^*, D. B. Sinars^†, T. A. Shelkovenko^‡, K. M. Chandler, D. A. Hammer, G. V. Ivanenkov^§, W. Stepniewski^∥, and I. Yu. Skobelev^¶

Laboratory of Plasma Studies, 369 Upson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853

^*Permanent address: P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Leninskii Pr. 53, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
^†Present address: Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185-1193.
^‡
^§
^∥Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion, Warsaw 49, Hery 23, Poland.
^¶Multicharged Ion Spectra Data Center, VNIIFTRI, Mendeleevo, Moscow Region, Russia.