Dynamics of Multiple-Wire X-Pinches

X-pinches are one of the most localized sources of X-rays and are potentially useful for a number of applications. An investigation was carried out into the plasma dynamics of a "tabletop" X-pinch plasma generated by passing a 40-ns 35-kA current pulse through two or four 5-mum-thick tungsten wires. It was found that the number of wires significantly changes the dynamics of the discharge, as evidenced by images of the emission in the visible spectral region. It was also found that increasing the number of wires enhanced the reproducibility of the discharge and the X-ray pulse.