X-pinch experiments on the UM 1-MA linear transformer driver

X-pinch experiments are currently underway on the Linear Transformer Driver (LTD) at the University of Michigan. The MAIZE LTD can supply 1 MA, 100 kV pulses with 100 ns risetime into a matched load. The x-pinch consists of a single wire separated by conical electrodes¹, between two current return plates. The LTD was charged to +/-70 kV resulting in approximately 0.5 MA passing through a 50 μm Mo wire. During initial tests a 12.5 μm Ti filter was placed in front of the film to screen out visible emission from the wire. Laser shadowgraphy is also used to diagnose the x-pinch plasma. Currently, the LTD drives a 400 nm Al foil with +/- 70 kV at 600 kA. Magnetic pressure causes the foil to accelerate, which results in the magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor (MRT) instability. Laser shadowgraphy has been used to image the foil and determine the growth rate, and the x-pinch is expected to be used as a backlighter with the goal of x-ray probing the foil plasma at higher densities.