We have measured the time-dependent radial velocity distributions of singly to five times ionized ions in an imploding plasma shell by observing the spectral shapes and intensities of emission lines in various directions. An ionization wave propagating much faster than the local radial ion velocities is observed. The ionization front velocity is found to be consistent with estimates of electron heat conduction into the plasma-neutral layer. The ionization and velocity histories of the particles are experimentally determined. The mechanisms of momentum transfer to the particles are also determined and compared with existing models. PACS numbers: 52.55.Ez, 52.70.Kz Much effort is presently directed towards understanding dynamic processes in pinches, especially the radiation dynamics in plasma with ions of medium to high nuclear charge [1]. These experiments are beginning to provide insight into the behavior and properties of the final hot dense state of the Z-pinch plasma as well as provide unique opportunities for testing theoretical predictions such as radiative collapse [2]. Other interest in pinch phenomena includes x-ray laser schemes and source development [1], as well as in solar flare plasma, where time-dependent processes are studied [3].

Articles you may be interested inProbing the plasma near high power wave launchers in fusion devices for static and dynamic electric fields (invited)a) Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85, 11E301 (2014); 10.1063/1.4890247 Beyond Zeeman spectroscopy: Magnetic-field diagnostics with Stark-dominated line shapes

The time-dependent radial distribution of the electron temperature in a 0.6 micros, 220-kA gas-puff z-pinch plasma is studied using spatially-resolved observations of line emission from singly to fivefold ionized oxygen ions during the plasma implosion, up to 50 ns before maximum compression. The temperature obtained, together with the previously determined radial distributions of the electron density, plasma radial velocity, and magnetic field, allows for studying the history of the magnetic-field energy coupling to the plasma by comparing the energy deposition and dissipation rates in the plasma. It is found that at this phase of the implosion, approximately 65% of the energy deposited in the plasma is imparted to the plasma radial flow, with the rest of the energy being converted into internal energy and radiation.

A method for a self-consistent determination of the time history of the electron density, electron temperature, and ionic charge-state composition in a multicomponent plasma, using time-dependent measurements and calculations of absolute emission-line intensities, is presented. The method is applied for studying the properties of an imploding gas-puff Z-pinch plasma that contains several oxygen ions up to the fifth ionization stage. Furthermore, by using intensity ratios of lines from different ion species, the electron temperature was determined with a much improved accuracy, in comparison to previous spectroscopic studies of the same plasma. The ion-density history obtained, together with the known time-dependent radial boundaries of the plasma shell, allowed for tracking the rise in time of the mass swept by the magnetic field during the implosion.

The time-dependent radial distributions of the electron and ion densities during the implosion phase of a gas-puff z-pinch plasma are determined from measurements of continuum radiation, as well as time-dependent collisional-radiative analysis of the observed particle ionization history in the plasma. It is shown that during the 140-ns-long time interval close to the end of the ϳ620-ns-long implosion phase, the total imploding-plasma mass increases by ϳ65%, found to be consistent with the continuous ionization of the gas ahead of the plasma shell. Furthermore, the densities obtained, together with the previously determined radial distributions of the electron temperature, magnetic field, and particle radial velocities, are used to analyze the energy terms that support the radial propagation of the ionization wave seen in the plasma, thereby explaining the time-dependent radial distribution of the ion charge states in the plasma.