Review of Z-pinch driven fusion and high energy density physics applications

Abstract

The fast Z-pinch can highly efficiently convert the electrical energy stored in the pulsed power generator to X-ray radiation, creating high temperature, high density and high pressure environments. Significant progress in Z-pinch driven inertial confinement fusion and high energy density physics have been achieved in the last two decades. This paper outlines researches in indirect radiation driven fusion and magnetically direct driven fusion briefly, and introduces recent works on the dynamic hohlraum and the relative radiation source experiments on the 7−8 MA facility in China. It reviews progress of several Z-pinch applications in high energy density physics, such as the radiation-material interaction, opacity, dynamic material, laboratory astrophysics, as well as other domains. The paper also expects futher researches and developments of Z-pinch driven fusion and the corresponding applications in high energy density physics in China.