EUV spectroscopy of plasmas created in the final anode-cathode gap of the Z-Machine high-current pulsed generator (SNL)

Abstract

The effect of short-circuit across the final anode-cathode gap of powerful pulsed current generators could hamper efficient power delivery to the Z-pinch plasma. To study this effect, a novel EUV diagnostics of plasmas created in the final section of the transmission line (the anode-cathode gap near the main load) of the Z-Machine high-current generator (Sandia National Laboratories, United States) was developed. The work included developing spectroscopic instruments, theoretical and experimental studies of EUV spectra of iron ions in well-diagnosed laser-produced plasmas, and a comparison of these spectra with those of plasmas created in the final anode-cathode gap of the transmission line. The EUV spectra of highly charged Fe ions in the spectral range λ ∼ 20–800 Å were investigated. In experiments performed at Sandia National Laboratories, spectra of FeXIII-FeXVII ions were observed. A comparison of the measured and calculated spectra shows that the electron plasma temperature in the anode-cathode gap is T e ∼ 200 eV.