Coded aperture imaging for fluorescent x-rays.

We employ a coded aperture pattern in front of a pixilated charge couple device detector to image fluorescent x-rays (6-25 KeV) from samples irradiated with synchrotron radiation. Coded apertures encode the angular direction of x-rays, and given a known source plane, allow for a large numerical aperture x-ray imaging system. The algorithm to develop and fabricate the free standing No-Two-Holes-Touching aperture pattern was developed. The algorithms to reconstruct the x-ray image from the recorded encoded pattern were developed by means of a ray tracing technique and confirmed by experiments on standard samples.

Implosion dynamics and x-ray generation in small-diameter wire-array Z pinches.

It is known from experiments that the radiated x-ray energy appears to exceed the calculated implosion kinetic energy and Spitzer resistive heating [C. Deeney, Phys. Rev. A 44, 6762 (1991)] but possible mechanisms of the enhanced x-ray production are still being discussed. Enhanced plasma heating in small-diameter wire arrays with decreased calculated kinetic energy was investigated, and a review of experiments with cylindrical arrays of 1-16 mm in diameter on the 1 MA Zebra generator is presented in this paper. The implosion and x-ray generation in cylindrical wire arrays with different diameters were compared to find a transition from a regime where thermalization of the kinetic energy is the prevailing heating mechanism to regimes with other dominant mechanisms of plasma heating. Loads of 3-8 mm in diameter generate the highest x-ray power at the Zebra generator. The x-ray power falls in 1-2 mm loads which can be linked to the lower efficiency of plasma heating with the lack of kinetic energy. The electron temperature and density of the pinches also depend on the array diameter. In small-diameter arrays, 1-3 mm in diameter, ablating plasma accumulates in the inner volume much faster than in loads of 12-16 mm in diameter. Correlated bubblelike implosions were observed with multiframe shadowgraphy. Investigation of energy balance provides evidence for mechanisms of nonkinetic plasma heating in Z pinches. Formation and evolution of bright spots in Z pinches were studied with a time-gated pinhole camera. A comparison of x-ray images with shadowgrams shows that implosion bubbles can initiate bright spots in the pinch. Features of the implosions in small-diameter wire arrays are discussed to identify mechanisms of energy dissipation.

Mitigation of the plasma-implosion inhomogeneity in starlike wire-array Z pinches.

Implosions in starlike triple and quadruple wire arrays were investigated in a 1 MA Zebra generator. Implosion in these loads is directed along the rays of the star and cascades from wire to wire to the center. Shadowgraphy shows improved homogeneity of imploding plasma and mitigation of instabilities. Despite the low azimuthal symmetry, starlike wire arrays produce a stable x-ray pulse with the highest peak power of >0.4 TW and the shortest duration of 8-12 ns among different types of tested loads. This can be linked to stabilization of instabilities due to the multiple nesting.

Dynamics of mass transport and magnetic fields in low-wire-number-array Z pinches.

The dynamics of mass transport were observed in a wire array implosion with multiframe laser probing. Plasma bubbles arise at breaks in the wires. Interferometry shows that the leading edge of the bubbles brings material to the axis of the array. The speed of this material was measured to be > or =3 x 10(7) cm/s during the wire array implosion. A shock was observed during the collision of the bubbles with the precursor. The Faraday effect indicates current flowing in breaks on the wires. The current switches from the imploding mass to the on-axis plasma column at the beginning of the x-ray pulse.