Generation of a Beam of Fast Electrons, Plasma Bremsstrahlung, and Characteristic Radiation in a High-Current Z-Pinch

Abstract

The generation of accelerated electron beams in a high-current Z-pinch formed by the implosion of wire cylindrical tungsten arrays on an Angara-5-1 facility is studied. The most intense characteristic and bremsstrahlung X-ray radiation of fast electrons is recorded from the central region of the pinch at the pin-ching stage. The transverse size of the radiation source in the characteristic tungsten radiation Lα is ~1.5‒1.8 mm, which is close to the transverse size of the radiation source in the soft X-ray emission (1‒1.5 mm). The current of accelerated electrons generated during the implosion of the wire array and the formation of a pinch is on the order of the Alfven current (IA). This result is consistent with the estimate of the current of accelerated electrons made from the measured characteristic radiation intensity Lα of tungsten under the assumption that the mean free path of fast electrons in a pinch is on the order of its length.