K shell radiation physics in the ultrahigh optical depth pinches of the Z generator

Summary form only given. The 60 TW Z generator at Sandia National Laboratories is unique in its ability to strip multi-mg Al plasmas to the Hand He-like ionization stages. Such large plasma masses can produce optical depths in the principal K shell lines of 10/sup 3/. Thus, Z can serve as a unique laboratory facility at which radiation interactions and transport can be studied in a dense medium of extremely high X-ray opacity. In this talk we analyze data from shots in which arrays of alloy wires comprised of 95% Al and 5% Mg were imploded with a peak current of /spl sim/19 MA on Z. The number of wires varied from 180 to 264, the initial array radius from 1.5 to 2.5 cm, and the mass load from 3.6 to 1.3 mg/cm. The implosion time was constant at /spl sim/106 ns. Total radiative yields of /spl sim/1 MJ were observed, and the (Al+Mg) K shell yield increased with decreasing mass from 90 to near 200 kJ.