Ar implosions on Decade Quad

Summary form only given, as follows. The Decade Quad simulator has recently been modified to add a water convolute that links its four modules to a single vacuum magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL) for use with plasma radiation source (PRS) loads. This new PRS MITL delivers about 8 MA in about 300 ns to a z-pinch load. A two-shell gas-puff, flying coil valve has been developed. Both shells have independent coils that directly seal against a metal piece containing the nozzle throats. Both coils are connected in series and energized by a capacitor discharge. Current flow within the coil induces an eddy current in the metal that repels the coil, opening the valve. Directly driving the sealing coil rather than using a hammer arrangement has several advantages: (a) jitter in the opening time is minimized; (b) the rise-time of the gas jet is reduced and (c) <100 J energy is needed to open the valve, which makes it possible to power the valve driver by batteries. The valve produces two concentric annular gas jets with a rise-time of approximately 1705 s. All operating parameters of the valve such as gas pressure, driver charge voltage and driver trigger are controlled using fiber optics, requiring no electrical connection to the valve/driver during operation. Thus, this valve eliminates the need for a high voltage transit-time isolator. The gas flow from three different nozzles has been characterized using the AASC 4-beam fiber optic interferometer. These data are presented. A suite of several diagnostics including thermoelastic calorimeters, bolometers, X-ray diodes, diamond radiation detectors, zipper array, pinhole camera and X-ray crystal spectrometer were used to measure the X-ray output of the Ar implosions on Decade Quad. These data are presented.