Simulation of Nested Stainless Steel Wire Arrays on Z with a Detailed Radiation-Hydrodynamics Model

Summary form only given. Recent experiments on the Z accelerator employing nested stainless steel wire arrays have produced K-shell X-ray yields in excess of 50 kJ in the range 5.5 to 8.0 keV. Stainless steel (Z=24-28) can barely be ionized to the K-shell on Z, and the spectra are thus sensitive to the implosion history. We have employed a detailed configuration non-LTE radiation hydrodynamics model to simulate the implosion dynamics of wire array configurations with diameters of 4.5 to 8.0 centimeters. Good overall agreement with total and K-shell experimental yields was obtained for the cases studied. In addition, the K-shell spectra for shots Z-578 and Z-581 closely replicated the observed spectra. The line shapes of the He-lines were reproduced using a more detailed multifrequency radiation transport model. The most prominent K-shell line is actually a complex of the self-reversed Fe He-line, the Fe inter-combination line and two Cr He-like lines. Detailed spectra, energetics and pinch histories will be shown