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

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 $&lt;10$ 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.