A high-resolution (100-ps, 100-/spl mu/m) microchannel plate gated pinhole camera to study fast Z-pinch implosions

Summary form only given as follows. Fast, high current Z-pinch implosions are used to produce intense X-ray pulses for various applications. For high-energy photon production and for inertial fusion applications, the imploding Z pinch can achieve velocities between 50 and 100 cm//spl mu/s. To image such implosions, a high time resolution is needed. Furthermore, the final pinches formed can be only 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter but 20 mm long. Given a basic microchannel plate resolution of 80 /spl mu/m, then a high magnification (>1.5) is required to maintain good spatial resolution. To satisfy these requirements, we have designed and fielded a nine-frame, gated-MCP pinhole camera on the 20-MA Z accelerator. Each MCP frame is 6 cm by 2 cm, and is gated with a 100 ps duration pulse. We will describe the design and operation of this camera, in addition to showing data from Z-pinch and hohlraum experiments using this camera.