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In order to estimate the radiated power that can be expected from the next-generation Z-pinch driver such as ZR at 28 MA, current-scaling experiments have been conducted on the 20 MA driver Z. We report on the current scaling of single 40 mm diameter tungsten 240 wire arrays with a fixed 110 ns implosion time. The wire diameter is decreased in proportion to the load current. Reducing the charge voltage on the Marx banks reduces the load current. On one shot, firing only three of the four levels of the Z machine further reduced the load current. The radiated energy scaled as the current squared as expected but the radiated power scaled as the current to the 3.52±0.42 power due to increased x-ray pulse width at lower current. As the current is reduced, the rise time of the x-ray pulse increases and at the lowest current value of 10.4 MA, a shoulder appears on the leading edge of the x-ray pulse. In order to determine the nature of the plasma producing the leading edge of the x-ray pulse at low currents further shots were taken with an on-axis aperture to view on-axis precursor plasma. This aperture appeared to perturb the pinch in a favorable manner such that with the aperture in place there was no leading edge to the x-ray pulses at lower currents and the radiated power scaled as the current squared ±0.75. For a full-current shot we will present x-ray images that show precursor plasma emitting on-axis 77 ns before the main x-ray burst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results from the first solid foil implosion on the 18-MA Z accelerator are reported. The foil implosion is compared to a 300-wire-array implosion with the same material and the same diameter, height, and total mass. Though both the foil and the array produced comparable x-ray yields, the array’s radiation burst was twice as powerful and half as long as the foil’s. These data along with x-ray backlighting images and inductance measurements suggest that the foil implosion was more unstable than the wire-array implosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 100 ns, 20 MA pinch-driver Z is surrounded by an extensive set of diagnostics. There are nine radial lines of sight set at 12° above horizontal and each of these may be equipped with up to five diagnostic ports. Instruments routinely fielded viewing the pinch from the side with these ports include x-ray diode arrays, photoconducting detector arrays, bolometers, transmission grating spectrometers, time-resolved x-ray pinhole cameras, x-ray crystal spectrometers, calorimeters, silicon photodiodes, and neutron detectors. A diagnostic package fielded on axis for viewing internal pinch radiation consists of nine lines of sight. This package accommodates virtually the same diagnostics as the radial ports. Other diagnostics not fielded on the axial or radial ports include current B-dot monitors, filtered x-ray scintillators coupled by fiber optics to streak cameras, streaked visible spectroscopy, velocity interferometric system for any reflector, bremsstrahlung cameras, and active shock breakout measurement of hohlraum temperature. The data acquisition system is capable of recording up to 500 channels and the data from each shot is available on the Internet. A major new diagnostic presently under construction is the BEAMLET backlighter. We will briefly describe each of these diagnostics and present some of the highest-quality data from them. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the development of an axial package for diagnosing dynamic hohlraum experiments on the z-pinch driver, Z accelerator. Refurbishment of an axial re-entrant cone originally designed to diagnose ion-beam-driven hohlraums; Diagnostic lines of sight; Protection against the severe debris ejected along the axis of a pinch.

Describes the implosion of solid and annular silicon aerogel and agar foams on the Saturn accelerator to study plasma initiation, acceleration, and stagnation. Results from x-ray diodes and bolometers; Spectroscopic results.

Discusses results of tests of low density agar and aerogel foams as z-pinch loads on the Saturn accelerator to study current flow initiation. Targets and the matrix of shots; Emission features; Factors contributing to good coupling to the machine.

A bottom axial diagnostic package has recently been developed and fielded on the 100 ns, 20 MA pinch-driver Z. The bottom package was developed to measure the power radiated to the bottom of Z and compare it to the power radiated to the top of Z on dynamic hohlraum pinch loads. When an up/down power asymmetry was measured, the bottom package was expanded in an effort to determine the source of the asymmetry. The bottom package contains one port directly on axis, six ports at 3.4° to the axis, and four ports at 9° to the axis. Typical diagnostics fielded on the bottom package are a time-resolved pinhole camera, time-integrated spatially resolved convex crystal spectrometers, a time-resolved crystal spectrometer, x-ray diodes, bolometers, and photoconducting detectors. We will present some typical data from these bottom diagnostics on dynamic hohlraum shots on Z and briefly discuss their relevance to the up/down power asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the development of a comprehensive diagnostic package for observing z-pinch radiation along the pinch axis on the Z accelerator. Environment of the Z accelerator; Two design approaches considered to mitigate the shrapnel problem; Issues related to the re-entrant diagnostic package's implementation and maintenance.