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We present a new experimental platform for studying radiative shocks using an ``inverse liner z-pinch'' configuration. This platform was tested on the MAGPIE pulsed power facility (~1 MA with a rise time of ~240 ns) at Imperial College London, U.K. Current is discharged through a thin-walled metal tube (a liner) embedded in a low-density gas-fill and returned through a central post. The resulting magnetic pressure inside the liner launched a cylindrically symmetric, expanding radiative shock into the gas-fill at ~10 km/s. This experimental platform provides good diagnostic access, allowing multiframe optical self-emission imaging, laser interferometry, and optical emission spectrography to be fielded. Results from experiments with an Argon gas-fill initially at 0.04 mg/cm³are presented, demonstrating the successful production of cylindrically symmetric, expanding shocks that exhibit radiative effects such as the formation of a radiative precursor.

We present an experimental study of the development and structure of bow shocks produced by the interaction of a magnetised, collisional, super-Alfvénic plasma flow with conducting cylindrical obstacles. The plasma flow with an embedded, frozen-in magnetic field (ReM ∼ 20) is produced by the current-driven ablation of fine aluminium wires in an inverse, exploding wire array z-pinch. We show that the orientation of the embedded field with respect to the obstacles has a dramatic effect on the bow shock structure. When the field is aligned with the obstacle, a sharp bow shock is formed with a global structure that is determined simply by the fast magneto-sonic Mach number. When the field is orthogonal to the obstacle, magnetic draping occurs. This leads to the growth of a magnetic precursor and the subsequent development of a magnetised bow shock that is mediated by two-fluid effects, with an opening angle and a stand-off distance, that are both many times larger than in the parallel geometry. By changing the field orientation, we change the fluid regime and physical mechanisms that are responsible for the development of the bow shocks. MHD simulations show good agreement with the structure of well-developed bow shocks. However, collisionless, two-fluid effects will need to be included within models to accurately reproduce the development of the shock with an orthogonal B-field.

The aim of this work is to produce and study a high energy density laboratory plasma relevant to astrophysical accretion disks. To this end, an experimental setup based on a modified cylindrical wire array was devised, which employs a cusp magnetic field to introduce angular momentum into the system. The setup was studied numerically with the three-dimensional, resistive magneto-hydrodynamic code GORGON. Simulations show that a differentially-rotating flow is formed, with typical rotation velocity and Mach number values of 60 km/s and Mφ ∼ 5 respectively. The plasma is radiatively cooled and presents a Reynolds number higher than 107. In addition, the magnetic Reynolds number and the plasma β are >1. Such a plasma is of interest for the study of hydrodynamic and magneto-hydrodynamic instabilities, and turbulence generation in differentially-rotating plasma flows.

A cylindrical liner z-pinch configuration has been used to drive converging radiative shock waves into different gases. On application of a 1.4 MA, 240 ns rise-time current pulse, a series of cylindrical shocks moving at typical velocities of 20 km s −1 are consecutively launched from the inside liner wall into an initially static gas-fill of density ∼10 −5 g cm −3 . The drive current skin depth calculated prior to resistive heating was slightly less than the liner wall thickness and no bulk liner implosion occurred. Axial laser probing images show the shock fronts to be smooth and azimuthally symmetric, with instabilities developing downstream of each shock. Evidence for a radiative precursor ahead of the first shock was seen in laser interferometry imaging and time-gated, spatially resolved optical spectroscopy. The interferometry diagnostic was able to simultaneously resolve the radiative precursor and the density jumps at the shock fronts. Optical streak photography provided information on shock timing and shock trajectories and was used to gain insight into the shock launching mechanisms.

We present data from experiments using nested wire-array Z -pinches where the wires of one of the arrays (the outer or inner array) are inclined to produce a cone. The use of these nested conical arrays can potentially provide a valuable tool in X-ray radiation pulse shaping for Z-pinch-driven high-yield inertial-confinement-fusion schemes. Conical nested arrays can produce a zippered implosion which broadens the main radiation pulse and, possibly, the pulse associated with the interaction of the two arrays. Results from experiments at current levels of 1 MA (240 ns) and 18 MA (100 ns) are presented and compared. Experiments at 1 MA with a conical outer array indicate broadening of the full-width at half-maximum of the main stagnation radiation pulse, with results at 20 MA showing a similar result. Conical inner arrays do not broaden the main radiation pulse because a longer inner array ablation time offsets the earlier interaction time of the outer array with the inner array. Although array dynamics data suggest that a conical inner or outer array can potentially provide control of the interaction radiation pulse, this was not observed. Observations are consistent with a wire-array trajectory model incorporating outer and inner array ablation, snowplow physics, and a simplified array interaction model.

Possibility of preconditioning of wires in wire array Z-pinch loads by an auxiliary low-level current pulse was investigated in experiments with two aluminum or two polyimide-coated tungsten wires. It was found that the application of a 1 kA, 10 ns current pulse could convert all the length of the Al wires (1 cm long, 15 μm diameter) and ∼70% of length of the W wires (1 cm long, 15 μm diameter, 2 μm polyimide coating) into a gaseous state via ohmic heating. The expansion and merging of the wires, positioned at separations of 1–3 mm, were investigated with two-wavelength (532 nm and 1064 nm) laser interferometry. The gasified wire expanded freely in a vacuum and its density distribution at different times could be well described using an analytic model for the expansion of the gas into vacuum. Under an energy deposition around its atomization enthalpy of the wire material, the aluminum vapor column had an expansion velocity of 5–7 km/s, larger than the value of ∼4 km/s from tungsten wires. The dynamic atomic polarizabilities of tungsten for 532 nm and 1064 nm were also estimated.

A two-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic simulation incorporating cold start conditions is used to explain the early phase of carbon fiber Z-pinch experiments. The rapid development of large scale, nonlinear m=0 perturbations in the plasma corona is reproduced. X-ray bright spot formation in the necks of the instability is followed by bright spot bifurcation and fast axial motion. Bright spot bifurcation is found to be due to axial components of the j×B force and occurs off-axis due to the presence of a residual core of unionized carbon. Artificial diagnostic images are generated from the simulations data to allow direct comparison with experimental x-ray imaging and laser probing diagnostics. The accurate reproduction of the experimental images provides confirmation that the experimentally observed features are a repercussion of the non-linear development of the m=0 instability in an ionizing medium.

In the context of high energy density laboratory astrophysics, we aim to produce and study a rotating plasma relevant to accretion discs physics. We devised an experimental setup based on a modified cylindrical wire array and we studied it numerically with the three-dimensional, resistive magneto-hydrodynamic code GORGON. The simulations show that a rotating plasma cylinder is formed, with typical rotation velocity ~35 km/s and Mach number ~5. In addition, the plasma ring is differentially rotating and strongly radiatively cooled. The introduction of external magnetic fields is discussed.

We present data from the first Z-pinch experiments aiming to simulate aspects of accretion disk physics in the laboratory. Using off axis ablation flows from a wire array z-pinch we demonstrate the formation of a supersonically (M ∼ 2) rotating hollow plasma cylinder of height ∼4 mm and radius 2 mm. Using a combination of diagnostics we measure the rotation speed (∼60 kms−1), electron density (1019 cm−3), ion temperature (Ti ∼ 60 eV) and the product of electron temperature and average ionisation (ZTe ∼ 150 to 200 eV). Using these parameters we calculate the Reynolds number for the plasma on the order 105 and magnetic Reynolds number as 10 – 100. The plasma flow is maintained for 150 ns, corresponding to one rotation period, which should allow for studying fast instabilities which develop on this time-scale.

Coiled arrays, which are cylindrical arrays in which each wire is formed into a helix, suppress the modulation of ablation at the fundamental wavelength. Outside the vicinity of the wire cores, ablation flow from coiled arrays is modulated at the coil wavelength and has a two-stream structure in the r, thetas plane. Within the vicinity of the helical wires, ablation is concentrated at positions with the greatest azimuthal displacement, and plasma is axially transported from these positions such that the streams become aligned with the sections of the coil furthest from the array axis. The GORGON MHD code accurately reproduces this observed ablation structure, which can be understood in terms of J times B forces that result from the interaction of the global magnetic field with a helical current path as well as additional current paths suggested by the simulations. With this ability to control where the ablation streamers occur, large wavelength coils were constructed such that the breaks that form in the wires had sufficient axial separation to prevent perturbations in the implosion sheath from merging. This produced a new mode of implosion in which the global instability can be controlled, and perturbations correlated between all wires in an array. For large-wavelength eight-wire coiled arrays, this produced a dramatic increase in X-ray power, equaling that of a 32-wire straight array. These experiments were carried out on the mega ampere generator for plasma implosion experiments (1 MA, 240 ns) at Imperial College London, London, U.K.

This paper summarizes observations of precursor-column formation in cylindrical wire arrays on the 1-MA MAGPIE generator at Imperial College London. Direct experimental measurements of the diameter variation during the collapse and formation phase of the precursor column taken from gated soft X-ray images are presented. Three stages in precursor-column formation are identifiable from the data: broad initial density profile, rapid contraction to small diameter, and slow expansion after formation. The variation in the minimum diameter is measured for several materials, and data show good agreement with a pressure-balance model. Stability calculations suggest that the fraction of the drive current flowing the precursor column is < 1% for Al arrays and ~2% for W. "4 times 4" arrays show the formation of local precursor columns close to the wire position, which exhibit differences in stability depending on the wire separation. This may be related to deceleration of the plasma flow by the B-field or current convection in the flow

In this paper, we describe the operation of a two-stage wire array z-pinch driven by the 1.4 MA, 240 ns rise-time Magpie pulsed-power device at Imperial College London. In this setup, an inverse wire array acts as a fast current switch, delivering a current pre-pulse into a cylindrical load wire array, before rapidly switching the majority of the generator current into the load after a 100–150 ns dwell time. A detailed analysis of the evolution of the load array during the pre-pulse is presented. Measurements of the load resistivity and energy deposition suggest significant bulk heating of the array mass occurs. The ∼5 kA pre-pulse delivers ∼0.8 J of energy to the load, leaving it in a mixed, predominantly liquid-vapour state. The main current switch occurs as the inverse array begins to explode and plasma expands into the load region. Electrical and imaging diagnostics indicate that the main current switch may evolve in part as a plasma flow switch, driven by the expansion of a magnetic cavity and plasma bubble along the length of the load array. Analysis of implosion trajectories suggests that approximately 1 MA switches into the load in 100 ns, corresponding to a doubling of the generator dI/dt. Potential scaling of the device to higher current machines is discussed.

An optical Thomson scattering diagnostic has been used to investigate collisions between supersonic, magnetized plasma flows, in particular the transition from collisionless to collisional interaction dynamics. These flows were produced using tungsten wire array z-pinches, driven by the 1.4 MA 240 ns Magpie generator at Imperial College London. Measurements of the collective-mode Thomson scattering ion-feature clearly indicate that the ablation flows are interpenetrating at 100 ns (after current start), and this interpenetration continues until at least 140 ns. The Thomson spectrum at 150 ns shows a clear change in the dynamics of the stream interactions, transitioning towards a collisional, shock-like interaction of the streams near the axis. The Thomson scattering data also provide indirect evidence of the presence of a significant toroidal magnetic field embedded in the “precursor” plasma near the axis of the array over the period 100–140 ns; these observations are in agreement with previous measuremen...

A gas-filled cylindrical liner z-pinch configuration has been used to drive convergent radiative shock waves into different gases at velocities of 20–50 km s−1. On application of the 1.4 MA, 240 ns rise-time current pulse produced by the Magpie generator at Imperial College London, a series of cylindrically convergent shock waves are sequentially launched into the gas-fill from the inner wall of the liner. This occurs without any bulk motion of the liner wall itself. The timing and trajectories of the shocks are used as a diagnostic tool for understanding the response of the liner z-pinch wall to a large pulsed current. This analysis provides useful data on the liner resistivity, and a means to test equation of state (EOS) and material strength models within MHD simulation codes. In addition to providing information on liner response, the convergent shocks are interesting to study in their own right. The shocks are strong enough for radiation transport to influence the shock wave structure. In particular, we see evidence for both radiative preheating of material ahead of the shockwaves and radiative cooling instabilities in the shocked gas. Some preliminary results from initial gas-filled liner experiments with an applied axial magnetic field are also discussed.

The SPHINX facility (with 1-mus rise time and 5 MA) has been developed for soft X-ray production at the Centre d'Etudes de Gramat, Gramat, France. The first experiments were performed with aluminum nested wire arrays Z-pinches for K-shell production. A K-shell yield of up to 25 kJ and the full-width at half-maximum of an X-ray pulse of about 50 ns were obtained with an 800-ns implosion time and a 4-MA peak current. The specific features observed during these experiments are discussed. Inner-array dynamics highlights the fact that resistivity should not be neglected in the analysis. The effect of the return-current housing on the array dynamics, as well as the ways to mitigate it and control its impact on the radiation pulse, is also examined

A review of recent experiments on the MAGPIE generator (1 MA, 250 ns) aimed at studying the implosion dynamics of wire array Z-pinches is presented. The first phase of implosion is dominated by the gradual ablation of stationary wire cores and gradual redistribution of the array mass by the precursor plasma flow. It is found that the rate of wire ablation depends on the magnitude of the global (collective) magnetic field of the array, and increases with the field. The existence of the modulation of the ablation rate along the wires leads to the presence of a 'trailing' mass left behind by the imploding current sheath. The trailing mass provides an alternative path for the current, reducing the force available for compression of the pinch at stagnation. The observed dependence of the ablation rate on inter-wire separation suggests an explanation for the existence of the optimal wire number maximizing the x-ray power. Axially resolved spectroscopy shows the presence of the x-ray 'bright' spots (< 150 µm) emitting intense continuum radiation.

A technique for manufacturing wires with imposed modulation in radius with axial wavelengths as short as 1 mm is presented. Extruded aluminum 5056 with 15 μm diameter was masked and chemically etched to reduce the radius by ∼20% in selected regions. Characterized by scanning electron microscopy, the modulation in radius is a step function with a ∼10 μm wide conical transition between thick and thin segments, with some pitting in etched regions. Techniques for mounting and aligning these wires in arrays for fast z-pinch experiments will be discussed. Axially mass-modulated wire arrays of this type will allow the study of seeded Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in z pinches, corona formation, wire initiation with varying current density in the wire core, and correlation of perturbations between adjacent wires. This tool will support magnetohydrodynamics code validation in complex three-dimensional geometries, and perhaps x-ray pulse shaping.

During the early stages of a wire array Z-pinch implosion, low density plasma streams toward the axis by virtue of the Lorentz force. This streaming precursor plasma may initially be highly collisionless with respect to ion–ion collisions and therefore cannot be modeled using standard fluid theory. The hybrid method in this paper models both collisional and collisionless behavior with ions exchanging energy and momentum with other ions via a Monte Carlo algorithm equivalent to a small-angle kinetic solution and with an electron fluid via a frictional force. It is shown that the axial stagnation of the plasma flow occurs once the density becomes sufficiently high to initiate a nonlinear rise in electron–ion energy exchange, resulting in the thermal equilibration between radiatively cooling electrons and hot, thermalized ions. This then gives rise to a dense, long-lived precursor column on axis, as observed experimentally. The column is held in place by the kinetic pressure of the streaming precursor plasma, which is balanced by the thermal pressure of the plasma in the column at the column’s edge.

The hypothesis that wire array Z-pinch radiation sources can be represented as an ablating mass source embedded within a Lorentz force field is examined and the effects that this has upon the trajectory and spatial structure of the ensuing implosion are studied. Two-dimensional (2D) resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the ablating core regions and of the array cross-section indicate that the core ablation rate is determined by force balance at the ablation surface. This implies a weak dependence of the ablation velocity (the ratio of the magnitude of the Lorentz force to the mass ablation rate) on the array parameters (current, radius, mass, etc.). In the case of a constant ablation rate, the radial profiles in the flow region between the wires and the axis are found to converge to a set of time independent equilibria. These profiles represent a unique solution to the ideal MHD equations for super-Alfvenic flow in cylindrical geometry. Comparisons of simulated implosion trajectories with ex...

Nested wire array Z-pinch experiments carried out on the MAGPIE generator (1.4 MA, 240 ns) [I. H. Mitchell et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 67, 1553 (1996)] are described. In the experiments, a high inductance connection to the inner array was used to suppress the current flowing through it. This allowed the current division expected in experiments on larger generators to be emulated, where the number of wires in the outer array acts to shield the inner array. Initially the suppression of current resulted in the wires of the inner array remaining as small discrete bodies, while the wires of the outer array ablated, prefilling the array with plasma in an identical way to a single array experiment. During implosion the outer array accelerated towards the inner array, snowploughing up the prefilled plasma, producing a rise in x-ray emission. When the outer array traveled past the inner array, a fast inductive transfer of current occurred between them, and the inner array then accelerated towards the axis where it stagnated to produce the main x-ray pulse. The risetime of the main x-ray pulse was significantly shorter than in single array experiments. The dependence of the shape of the x-ray pulse on the configuration of the outer and inner arrays was explored.

The effect of discrete wires on the implosion dynamics of wire array Z-pinch experiments at ∼1 MA current level is discussed. The data show that the formation of a core–corona structure leads to gradual radial redistribution of mass by precursor plasma flow from the stationary wire cores during the first ∼80% of the implosion time. This phase ends with the formation of gaps in the wire cores, which occurs due to the nonuniformity of ablation rate along the wires. The final phase of the implosion starting at this time occurs as a rapid snowplow-like implosion of the plasma, previously injected into the interior of the array. The density distribution of the precursor plasma being peaked on the array axis could be a key factor providing stability of the wire array implosions operating in the regime of discrete wires. The implications of this implosion scenario to the operation of nested wire arrays and foam targets on the array axis are also discussed.

Experiments on the implosion dynamics of single and nested nickel wire arrays driven by the MAGPIE generator with a 1-MA, 240-ns current pulse are reported. Like aluminum and tungsten wire discharges, the plasma formed from individual wires has a core-corona structure. In a single nickel array, a wire core size of 75 /spl mu/m before the implosion was measured by X-ray radiography. The precursor plasma is formed on axis and is m=1 unstable. The implosion of the array occurs later than predicted by the 0-D model, indicating that a fraction of current flows through the precursor plasma. This is in contrast with copper arrays (copper has the similar radiation properties as nickel, Z/sub nickel/=28, Z/sub copper/=29) where the precursor plasma is uniform and implosion time is as predicted by 0-D model. Experiments with nickel nested arrays show that the expansion of the wires in the outer and the inner array is similar and a precursor plasma is formed on the axis earlier than in single arrays. It appears from the experimental data that a significantly larger fraction of the current is flowing through the inner array.

An experiment is presented in which the x-ray emission from a stagnated wire array z-pinch is used to photo-ionise gas inside a gas cell. Photo-ionisation studies with x-rays from wire array implosions on the Z facility at Sandia National Labs used a gas cell positioned side-on and at large distances from the pinch1. Due to the much smaller radiation power from a 1 MA z-pinch, in our experiments the gas cell is mounted in an end-on position, close to the pinch.

The latest data from gas-filled cylindrical liner z-pinch experiments performed on the MAGPIE facility at Imperial College London (1.4MA, 240ns) are presented. The MAGPIE current is applied to thin-walled (100um) tubes with a static gas-fill inside (initial gas density 1E-5 g/cc). The system is used to drive cylindrically converging strong shock waves (U_s = 20–50km/s) into different gases.

A new experimental platform was developed, based on the use of supersonic plasma flow from the ablation stage of an inverse wire array z-pinch, for studies of shocks in magnetized high energy density physics plasmas in a well-defined and diagnosable 1-D interaction geometry. The mechanism of flow generation ensures that the plasma flow (ReM ∼ 50, MS ∼ 5, MA ∼ 8, Vflow ≈ 100 km/s) has a frozen-in magnetic field at a level sufficient to affect shocks formed by its interaction with obstacles. It is found that in addition to the expected accumulation of stagnated plasma in a thin layer at the surface of a planar obstacle, the presence of the magnetic field leads to the formation of an additional detached density jump in the upstream plasma, at a distance of ∼c/ωpi from the obstacle. Analysis of the data obtained with Thomson scattering, interferometry, and local magnetic probes suggests that the sub-shock develops due to the pile-up of the magnetic flux advected by the plasma flow.

We present data from the first z-pinch experiments aiming to simulate aspects of accretion disk physics in the laboratory. Using off axis ablation flows from a wire array z-pinch we demonstrate the formation of a hollow disk structure that rotates at 60 kms−1 for 150 ns. By analysing the Thomson scattered spectrum we make estimates for the ion and electron temperatures as Ti ∼ 60 eV and ZTe ∼ 150 to 200 eV.

A phenomenological model of wire array Z-pinch implosions, based on the analysis of experimental data obtained on the mega-ampere generator for plasma implosion experiments (MAGPIE) generator [I. H. Mitchell et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 67, 1533 (1996)], is described. The data show that during the first ∼80% of the implosion the wire cores remain stationary in their initial positions, while the coronal plasma is continuously jetting from the wire cores to the array axis. This phase ends by the formation of gaps in the wire cores, which occurs due to the nonuniformity of the ablation rate along the wires. The final phase of the implosion starting at this time occurs as a rapid snowplow-like implosion of the radially distributed precursor plasma, previously injected in the interior of the array. The density distribution of the precursor plasma, being peaked on the array axis, could be a key factor providing stability of the wire array implosions operating in the regime of discrete wires. The modified “initial” conditions for simulations of wire array Z-pinch implosions with one-dimension (1D) and two-dimensions (2D) in the r–z plane, radiation-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) codes, and a possible scaling to a larger drive current are discussed.

Experiments to study plasma formation and implosion dynamics of wire array z pinches performed on MAGPIE generator (1.4 MA, 240 ns) at Imperial College are reviewed. Data from laser probing and X-ray radiography show that heterogeneous plasma structure with dense wire cores surrounded by low-density coronal plasma persists in wire arrays for a significant part of the implosion. Early implosion of the coronal plasma produces a precursor plasma column on the array axis, parameters of which depend on the rate of radiative cooling. The seeding of perturbations on the dense core of each wire is provided by nonuniform sweeping of the low-density coronal plasma from the cores by the global J X B force. The spatial scale of these perturbations ( 0.5 mm for Al, 0.25 mm for W) is determined by the size of the wire cores ( 0.25 mm for Al, ∼0.1 mm for W). A qualitative change in implosion dynamics, with transition to 0-D-like trajectory, was observed in Al arrays when the ratio of interwire gap to wire core size was decreased to ∼3. In experiments with nested wire arrays, two different modes of operation were identified, both giving significant sharpening of the X-ray pulse ( 10 ns) in comparison with a single array, despite the small number of wires in the arrays (16 outer, 16 inner) and the long implosion time (260 ns).

A series of specialized multidimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models have been developed to tackle the different phases of evolution of wire array z-pinch implosions. Two-dimensional (r–z) “cold-start” or “wire initiation” simulations of single wires indicate the persistence of a two-component structure with a cold, dense core embedded within a much hotter, low density, m = 0 unstable corona. Cold-start simulations with similar conditions to wires in an array show a general trend in the plasma structure from discrete wires with large m = 0 perturbation amplitudes to partially merged wires with smaller perturbation amplitudes as the number of wires is increased. Two-dimensional (r–θ) simulations then show how the persistence of dense wire cores results in the injection of material between the wires into the interior of the array, generating radial plasma streams which form a precursor plasma upon reaching the axis. Higher-resolution 2-D (r–θ) simulations show similar behavior for large number wire arrays in use at Sandia National Laboratories. This model is also used to predict which modes of implosion are in operation in nested wire array experiments. Separate r–θ plane simulations of the flux of plasma imploding towards the axis from the outer array and the bombardment of the inner array by this flux are presented. Finally, 2-D (r–z) simulations of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability during the final implosion phase are used to illustrate the effect upon the power and duration of the radiation output pulse. The results of low-resolution 3-D resistive MHD simulations are also presented. The need for much higher resolution 3-D simulations of certain aspects of wire array evolution is highlighted.

A series of one-, two-, and three-dimensional (1-D, 2-D, and 3-D) resistive magnetohydrodynamic models are used to build up a composite model of the different phases of wire array Z-pinch implosions. 1-D(r) and 2-D(r,z) “cold-start” simulations of single wire experiments are used to illustrate some of the important processes in the plasma formation phase of wire arrays. Detailed comparison of the simulation results with data from single wire experiments provides an excellent method of code verification. 2-D simulations in the r–θ or x–y plane show how the combination of the core–corona structure of the wire plasmas and the magnetic field topology result in the formation of radial plasma streams and a precursor plasma on axis well before the implosion phase commences. The same 2-D(x–y) model is also used to illustrate how the implosion trajectories of nested wire arrays are controlled by the levels of momentum, energy, and magnetic flux which are transferred during their collision. Preliminary results showing the evolution of a single wire in the array in 3-D are presented. These results suggest that the dynamics and structure of imploding wire arrays at Imperial College can potentially be explained in terms of the current breaking through the wire cores rather than in terms of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability.

Magnetohydrodynamic simulations are used to predict which modes of implosion are in operation in nested wire array experiments. Separate r–θ plane simulations of the flux of plasma imploding towards the axis from the outer array and the bombardment of the inner array by this flux are presented. The different implosion modes are distinguished by the level of momentum transfer and magnetic flux compression during collision. For typical configurations, large interwire gaps (>1.5 mm) are required in the inner array in order to access the advantageous mode where the outer array material passes through.

The Z pinch is enjoying a renaissance as the world’s most powerful yet efficient soft x-ray source which can energize large volume hohlraums for indirectly driven inertial confinement fusion. It has the advantages of being efficient and having high energy and power density. Its early history will be traced from the 18th century to the present day. The most notable feature of the Z pinch is its instability. The various regimes of stability analysis will be reviewed, including resistive and finite ion Larmor radius effects. Work in the last 10 years on single fibres, especially of cryogenic deuterium, gave neutrons that were of the same origin, namely, beam–plasma interactions, as reported by Kurchatov. The renaissance has come about through the implosion of arrays of fine wires. Research at Sandia National Laboratory has shown that by using more and finer wires, the x-ray radiation emitted at stagnation increased in power and decreased in pulse width. The understanding of these results has been advanced considerably by theory, simulation and smaller-scale, well diagnosed experiments showing the early uncorrelated m=0 instabilities on each wire, the inward jetting of plasma to the axis, the global Rayleigh–Taylor instability and the mitigating effect of nested arrays.

Two different modes of nested wire array implosion driven by a 1-MA, 240-ns current pulse were observed, determined by the fraction of total current induced in the inner array. Penetration by the outer array through the inner with switching of current occurred if current in the inner array was initially suppressed. Simultaneous implosion of arrays with apparent compression of magnetic flux between the arrays was observed if $\ensuremath{\sim}20%$ of the current was in the inner array. In both cases the x-ray pulse rise time of $\ensuremath{\sim}10\mathrm{ns}$ (for 260-ns implosion time) was considerably smaller than for a single array.

Wire array Z-pinch dynamics are studied in experiments with 16-mm diameter arrays of between 8 and 64, 15-μm diameter aluminum wires, imploded in 200–260 ns by a 1.4-MA current pulse. Side-on laser probing shows early development of noncorrelated m=0-like instabilities with an axial wavelength ∼0.5 mm in individual wires. End-on interferometry (r-θ plane) shows azimuthal merging of the plasma with a density of 1017 cm−3 in 90–65 ns for 8–64 wires, respectively. At the same time low-density plasma reaches the array axis and forms a precursor pinch by 120–140 ns. At 0.7–0.85 of the implosion time a global m=0 instability with a wavelength of 1.7–2.3 mm was detected in soft x-ray gated images, laser probing, and optical streaks. The time when the instability reaches the observable level corresponds to the number of e-foldings for the growth of the classical Rayleigh–Taylor instability of ∫γ dt∼5.6–7. The scaling of this number with the number of wires is consistent with the instability growth from the seed l...

A series of experiments has been carried out on the Mega Ampere Generator for Plasma Implosion Experiments (MAGPIE) generator in order to study the dynamics of carbon fiber Z-pinches. The generator was operated at 1.4 MV, with a peak current of 1 MA, and a rise time of 150 ns. In some shots, a current prepulse of about 30 kA was provided to study its influence on the dynamics of the fiber pinch. Carbon fibers of 7, 33, and 300 /spl mu/m diameter were used during these experiments. The diagnostics employed were a self-referencing interferometer, a two-frame Schlieren system, an optical streak camera, and a four-frame X-ray framing camera. A novel feature of these measurements is the employment of an optical streak camera with a set of four slits arranged along the fiber axis and displaced in the radial direction. This permitted the study of the temporal evolution (axial and radial) of the plasma regions emitting in the visible part of the spectra. Correlation between these regions of the plasma and the location of X-ray hot spots is discussed. In carbon fibers of 33 pm diameter, the radial expansion velocity measured from Schlieren images was 3.6/spl times/10/sup 6/ cm/s and 5.5/spl times/10/sup 6/ cm/s for shots with and without prepulse, respectively. The dominant axial wavelengths of instabilities in the coronal plasma were between 0.05 and 0.2 cm, which correspond to ka values between 10 and 20, where k is the wavenumber of the instability and a is its amplitude. The dynamics of carbon fibers of different diameters are compared.

Summary form only given. We present the results of experiments investigating the interactions of ablations streams in Aluminium and tungsten wire array z-pinches. These experiments were carried out on the 1.4MA, 240ns MAGPIE generator at Imperial College London. The primary diagnostic used for this study was an end-on aligned, two colour, Mach-Zehnder imaging interferometer. In aluminium arrays, the interactions of the ablation flows produces a dense network of oblique shocks. Measurements of the geometry of these shocks allows us to place limits on the plasma parameters of the flows. In tungsten arrays the data shows a prolonged period of collisionless flow. No shock structures were observed, the flow densities varied smoothly between the ablation streams and the inter-wire regions.

Summary form only given. Experimental investigation of collisions of supersonic plasma jets with metal foils and head-on collisions of two jets will be presented. The jets are produced by ablation of thin Al foils driven by 1.4MA, 250ns current pulse in a radial foil z-pinch configuration [1.2, 3] . The jets propagate with velocity of ~50-100km/s, have high degree of collimation (opening angle 2-5°) and are radiatively cooled (cooling time

A series of experiments has been conducted in order to investigate the azimuthal structures formed by the interactions of cylindrically converging plasma flows during the ablation phase of aluminium wire array Z pinch implosions. These experiments were carried out using the 1.4 MA, 240 ns MAGPIE generator at Imperial College London. The main diagnostic used in this study was a two-colour, end-on, Mach-Zehnder imaging interferometer, sensitive to the axially integrated electron density of the plasma. The data collected in these experiments reveal the strongly collisional dynamics of the aluminium ablation streams. The structure of the flows is dominated by a dense network of oblique shock fronts, formed by supersonic collisions between adjacent ablation streams. An estimate for the range of the flow Mach number (M = 6.2-9.2) has been made based on an analysis of the observed shock geometry. Combining this measurement with previously published Thomson Scattering measurements of the plasma flow velocity by H...

Experiments to study the ablation dynamics of coiled wire arrays were performed on the MAGPIE generator (1 MA, 240 ns) at Imperial College, and on the COBRA generator at Cornell University's Laboratory of Plasma Studies (1 MA, 100 ns). The MAGPIE generator was used to drive coiled wires in an inverse array configuration to study the distribution of ablated plasma. Using interferometry to study the plasma distribution during the ablation phase, absolute quantitative measurements of electron line density demonstrated very high density contrasts between coiled ablation streams and inter-stream regions many millimetres from the wire. The measured density contrasts for a coiled array were many times greater than that observed for a conventional array with straight wires, indicating that a much greater axial modulation of the ablated plasma may be responsible for the unique implosion dynamics of coiled arrays. Experiments on the COBRA generator were used to study the complex redirection of plasma around a coiled wire that gives rise to the ablation structure exhibited by coiled arrays. Observations of this complex 3D plasma structure were used to validate the current model of coiled array ablation dynamics [Hall et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 065003 (2008)], demonstrating irrefutably that plasma flow from the wires behaves as predicted. Coiled wires were observed to ablate and implode in the same manner on both machines, indicating that current rise time should not be an issue for the scaling of coiled arrays to larger machines with fast current rise times.

X-pinch radiography was used to analyze the interaction between streams of coronal plasma and on-axis foam targets in wire array z-pinch experiments on the MAGPIE generator (1 MA,240 ns). The implosion of the x-pinch, used in place of a current return conductor to the load, provided a short (

Spherically bent mica and quartz crystals have provided time-integrated spectra and monochromatic images in self-radiation of wire array z-pinch implosions on the MAGPIE generator (1 MA, 240 ns) at Imperial College. Diagnostics based on spherically bent crystals offer higher efficiencies than those based on flat or convex dispersion elements, allowing positioning far from the pinch with good debris shielding. A mica crystal spectrometer produced an image of the pinch in each emission line with about 100 μm axial resolution. Combining the results of monochromatic imaging and spectra confirmed the presence of bright spots, probably generated by energetic electrons inside the pinch.

A multi-frame extreme ultraviolet imaging system based on four pinhole cameras, each backed by a gated microchannel plate (MCP) detector, was used to analyze plasma formation and dynamics in wire array z-pinch experiments on the MAGPIE generator (1 MA, 240 ns) at Imperial College (London). The use of pinhole size, object, and image distances, and MCP sensitivity to determine the spatial and spectral response of the diagnostic is discussed. A high magnification, high resolution version of the diagnostic has produced important information on wire initiation and plasma ablation in various materials. A low magnification version has allowed direct study of the snowplough sheath during array implosion, and of plasma instabilities during stagnation.

Summary form only given. Experimental data from gas-filled cylindrical liner z-pinch experiments is presented. The MAGPIE current (1.4 MA, 240 ns) is applied to a thin walled (80um) aluminium tube with a static gas-fill inside. The system is diagnosed axially using laser interferometry, optical streak photography and optical spectroscopy. We observe a series of cylindrically converging shock waves driven into the gas-fill from the inside liner surface. No bulk motion of the liner occurs.

Summary form only given. The use of plastic formers coated in a thin film of Aluminium for the purposes of tailoring pulsed power driven radiative shock waves is discussed.

Summary form only given. Coiled arrays, a cylindrical array in which each wire is formed into a single helix, suppress the modulation of ablation at the fundamental wavelength. Instead, ablation flow is modulated at the wavelength of the coil, and arrays with large coil wavelength produce an organized mode of implosion in which the global instability can be controlled. The ablation and implosion dynamics of coiled arrays in this regime were studied using a combination of resistive voltage probes and Faraday rotation. These experiments were carried out on the MAGPIE generator at Imperial College. This research was sponsored by the DOE under Cooperative Agreements DEF03-02NA00057 and the Imperial College Junior Research Fellowship scheme.

Summary form only given. End-On interferometric measurements of the areal electron density distribution of wire array z-pinches has revealed striking differences in the behaviour of ablation plasmas. A change in wire material from aluminium to tungsten results in a change from a highly collisional structure dominated by shock formations to a much less collisional regime.

Summary form only given. We will present experiments on the MAGPIE facility (1.5MA, 250ns) in which an inverse wire array1 (with the wires acting as a return current cage placed around a central current conductor) operated as a fast current switch. This allowed to significantly reduce the rise-time of the current pulse (

A Thomson scattering diagnostic has been used to measure the parameters of cylindrical wire array Z pinch plasmas during the ablation phase. The scattering operates in the collective regime (α>1) allowing spatially localized measurements of the ion or electron plasma temperatures and of the plasma bulk velocity. The ablation flow is found to accelerate towards the axis reaching peak velocities of 1.2-1.3×10(7) cm/s in aluminium and ∼1×10(7) cm/s in tungsten arrays. Precursor ion temperature measurements made shortly after formation are found to correspond to the kinetic energy of the converging ablation flow.