We describe experiments for a neon tandem-puff Z pinch modified with a small-diameter, high-Z wire target (i.e., pinch-on-wire). The radiative yield for photon energies in the range of 1–100 keV is measured. With a copper-wire target the integral yield (J) between 0.9 and 1.5 keV increases by a factor of 1.5 compared to the pinch without a target; the yield is unchanged or slightly increased for higher-Z wires. The high-energy integral yield, above 6 keV, increases by a factor of 2 or more with a copper target and as much as a factor of 5 with a tungsten target. This behavior cannot be accounted for by simple hydrodynamic compression of a hot plasma and suggests yield enhancement by a nonthermal mechanism.
Spatially and temporally resolved measurements of transmitted laser radiation, radial density profiles, and plasma dynamics indicate beam self-trapping in CO2 laser-induced helium plasmas in strong longitudinal magnetic fields. Trapping is observed for the cases of β≳1, β?1, and β<1. Longitudinal plasma growth occurs principally by breakdown waves and weak radiation-supported detonation waves.
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