The energy distribution of the electron beams in z-pinches with different load geometries

Abstract

A wide variety of z-pinches are host to energetic electron beams whose energies and origins have yet to be sufficiently characterized. Knowing the electron energies and currents of these electron beams can give insight into the mechanism responsible for the acceleration of the electrons to such high energies. Measurements with a magnetic analyzer have been carried out to determine the energy distribution of electron beams on a variety of aluminum wire array z-pinch geometries at the Nevada Terawatt Facility at the University of Nevada, Reno. These measurements show that as the geometry of the wire array is changed so that the initial angle of inclination, or necking shape, is enhanced, there is an increase in electron beam activity and electron energies. Measurements such as these can be useful to benchmark spectroscopic techniques used to characterize these energetic beams and give insight into the mechanisms responsible for the generation of such energetic beams in z-pinch plasmas.