Analysis of radiation from uniform and combined Ag planar wire arrays

Abstract

Experiments with Ag, uniform and combined, single and multi-planar wire arrays (PWAs) are presented. Mo has been extensively studied in previous years and has shown to have high electron temperature (1400 eV) and energy output (25 kJ), which is of interest for future applications of inertial confinement fusion. Preliminary results on Ag single PWAs have shown promising results of even higher temperatures and energies, indicating the importance of future studies. All experiments were performed on the Zebra generator at UNR. A set of diagnostics included fast, filtered x-ray diodes; a Ni bolometer; laser shadowgraphy and streak setups; time-gated and time-integrated x-ray pinhole cameras; and time-integrated spatially resolved (TISR) and time-gated spatially-integrated (TGSI) x-ray spectrometers. The acquisition of spatial and temporal gradients in L-shell plasmas of very high mid-Z elements is of interest. In particular, the understanding of the time evolution of these plasmas is a critical next step of research. Implosion dynamics were analyzed with the wire ablation dynamics model. Non-LTE kinetic modeling was utilized to derive plasma electron temperature and density of L-shell Mo and Ag, which includes a new updated model of Ag presented for the first time. Further applications to pulse shaping and possible changes in opacity effects with different mixtures of Ag and Mo are also discussed. In result, the first analysis and comparison of L-shell Ag uniform and combined PWAs was accomplished.