Efficient argon K-shell radiation from a Z pinch at currents >15 MA

Abstract

Axially resolved z-pinch density, electron temperature, and K-shell emitting mass estimates from charge-coupled device based diagnostics Rev.

Diagnostic constraints on the amount of cold mass in imploded argon pinches on Z

“…Note from Fig. 1 that only 27% of the load reached temperatures sufficient for efficient K-shell radiation; this is consistent with the results of [1]. The remaining 73% consists of a much cooler outer blanket.…”

“…The successful implementation of gas-puff loads on the refurbished Z machine has resulted in the attainment of reproducible Ar K-shell yields of 330 ± 9%, kJ [2], well in excess of the previously published, then-record yield of 275 kJ [1]. Both the previous shots on the original version of Z and the recent experiments heated 1/4 to 1/3 of the load to temperatures sufficient to radiate K-shell photons.…”

“…The majority of the Z-pinch experiments that have been done on this machine have employed wire array loads. However, the previous version of the Z machine was also quite successful in driving gas-puff loads: then-record Ar K-shell yields of up to 275 kJ were reported in 2001 [1]. In light of this past success, the present, refurbished Z was configured to accept gas-puff nozzles in order that loads of Ar, Kr, and perhaps other elements could be tested as Z-pinch sources.…”

Two-dimensional radiation MHD modeling assessment of designs for argon gas puff distributions for future experiments on the refurbished Z machine

“…This energy conserving result follows because the sources of pinch energy, PdV work and Ohmic heating, scale as I 2 . The highest reported argon K-shell yield obtained on the pre-refurbished Z machine was w274 kJ, which was demonstrated to be in the I 2 or "efficient scaling regime" [4]. Based on this result, and because of the extra energy that can be coupled to a ZR driven Z-pinch load, one expects future K-shell yields on the ZR machine to also be in the I 2 K-shell scaling regime, and they should be appreciably larger than 274 kJ.…”

High yield neutron generator based on a high-current gasdynamic electron cyclotron resonance ion source

“…Manifold applications require neutron fluxes of various intensities, energy spectra, and degrees of collimation. Several types of neutron sources have been developed for the purpose including nuclear reactors, 1-7 radioisotope sources, 8,9 D-D and D-T generators, 10,11 plasma pinch machines, [12][13][14] accelerators, [15][16][17][18][19] etc. Each neutron source type occupies a niche fulfilling the parameters desired in a given application.…”