Metal-puff Z-pinch implosions on generator MIG with current level up to 2.3 MA

Summary form only given. Two experimental test sets on the compression of metal-puff Z-pinches [1-3] were carried out on generator MIG at current level up to I_MIG ~ 2.3 MA and rise time t_rt ~ 80 ns. The first set has been devoted to the study of the Al metal-puff Z-pinches. The second set was devoted to the study of the Bi metal-puff Z-pinches. The main objectives of these experiments are: 1) to investigate an implosion dynamic of metal-puff Z-pinches and 2) to optimize the plasma shell formation assembles from the point of view a radiation yield. Namely, we varied the amplitude and rise time of the plasma gun current Igun, a plasma density distribution inside the plasma shell, and the initial diameter of the plasma shell. To measure the K-shell Al radiation power, a pinhole camera and Diamond Radiation Detector (DRD) filtered with 18-μm thick polypropylene film were used. We recorded also the radiation energy (nickel bolometer) and the radiation power (XRD with bare Al and Cu photocathode). The metal puffs were produced by plasma guns powered by a capacitive power supply with quarter period T_gun/4 = 6.6 and 9.3 μs. The amplitude of current I_gun was 60 and 70 kA correspondingly. The time t_del between the operation of the plasma guns and the operation of the MIG generator was controlled by using a delay generator; t_del = 4.7 - 10.5 μs. Based on the analysis of the results and comparison of experimental data with simulation the recommendations on metal-puff Z-pinches optimization were given.