A Review of the Gas-Puff <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Z$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-Pinch as an X-Ray and Neutron Source

Abstract

Fisher and collaborators at the University of California, Irvine, invented the gas puff Z-pinch in the late 1970s using a 200-kA generator. The implementation of gas puffs as a copious source of X-rays has encountered major challenges, such as disruptive instabilities and the quest for long implosion times. During nearly four decades of experimental and theoretical efforts, those challenges have been successfully met to a great extent. This success is a result of the efforts of a large number of researchers. Today, the gas-puff Z-pinch has evolved into a powerful source of X-rays and neutrons, and is fielded on multi-Mega-Ampere generators. The basic force imploding a pinch is straightforward, but the operation of a gas puff requires specialized hardware and a thorough understanding of the radiation physics involves magnetohydrodynamics coupled with nonequilibrium ionization kinetics. The goal of this review is to document the experiments and theory that have led to the success of the gas puff as a K-shell X-ray and neutron source. Consequently, this review takes a historical approach to the covered material, but also provides a broad introduction to relevant scientific concepts.

Effects of a Preembedded Axial Magnetic Field on the Current Distribution in a Z -Pinch Implosion

“…The development of a force-free current configuration is suggested to explain this phenomenon. Compression of magnetic flux and magnetized plasma is a fundamental problem manifested in a variety of conducting fluid phenomena in laboratory plasmas and astrophysics [1][2][3][4][5]. Recently, this subject has gained particular interest due to the advances in producing plasmas of high temperature and density for fusion purposes, based on the approach of magnetized plasma compression [3,6].…”

MA-class linear transformer driver for Z -pinch research

“…However, this also means that the initial density profile has to be measured before the experiment, as opposed to the well-known arrangements of wires. Gas puff Z pinches are also prone to the development of the MRT instability, which is typically the dominant instability for large initial radius gas puffs, and can grow to ultimately disrupt the plasma column before maximum compression can occur [36,52].…”

Estimation of the neutron generation from gas puff Z-pinch on Qiang-Guang I facility

“…7 Using a gas-puff Z-pinch load as a powerful x-ray source or a neutron source has been studied for many years. 8 In recent years with the rapid development of the gas puff load, the Zpinch plasma has become the most powerful neutron source with the record of 4 × 10 13 on Z (15 MA, 100 ns) facility. 9 Velikovich has induced that half of the neutron yield on Z is produced by thermonuclear fusion and the others come from beam-target mechanism, and he also predicted that the neutrons would all be produced by thermonuclear fusion when the current of the accelerator is bigger than 26 MA.…”