Dynamics and radiation performance of the imploding wire arrays at 1 MA zebra generator

Abstract

Summary form only given. Recent experiments on implosion of planar wire arrays at 1 MA Zebra generator demonstrated the record-high radiation yield for the total energy as well as in sub-keV spectrum range. The radiation output from the array of wires, uniformly arranged along a straight line (planar wire array configuration) is always higher than from the arrays, built of the same wires, but distributed uniformly along a cylindrical surface (cylindrical wire array configuration), while different wire materials have been tested. The analysis of the experimental data shows that one of the intrinsic features of the planar array configuration is the enhanced stability of Z pinch, formed at the final stage of the implosion, versus the case of the cylindrical wire array. This work presents the first results of the 3D MHD modeling of the imploding wire arrays in planar wire array configuration. Special attention is paid to the current distribution between the wires of the planar array, using the magnetostatic modeling. Radiation yield and energy conversion models are supported by the radiation MHD simulations