A dynamical study of gap formation in x-pinch plasmas at 80 kA

This paper presents a dynamical study of vacuum gap formation in X-pinch plasmas at 80 kA pulsed power generator. Diagnostics include multiple frame laser interferometry to recover quantitative information, as well data from X-ray diodes, laser Schlieren imaging, time-integrated X-ray pinhole cameras, and a gated XUV framing camera. The velocity with which the gap opens can be determined from laser Schlieren images, and measures 1.4times10⁶ and 1.2times10⁶ cm/s for 2- and 4-wire tungsten X-pinches, respectively. In addition, electron density profiles recovered throughout the gap formation process allows analysis of the mass density evolution in the radial direction.