Nested wire arrays increase the peak radiated power on Z by 45%
In the past four months, the use of nested tungsten wires arrays to increase the radiated power from
z-pinch implosions has been studied computationally and experimentally at Sandia National
Laboratories. This concept was first tested at Physics International in 1984 with nested gas puffs and,
more recently, by the Russians with a gas puff on a wire array. Two-dimensional computer simulations
at Sandia and at Los Alamos National Laboratory of the effect of magnetic fields on the behavior of
the imploding plasma had indicated that nested wire arrays could reduce the growth of hydromagnetic
perturbations. Plasma from the outer array is driven inward by the magnetic field until the inner edge
strikes the stationary inner array. The deceleration of fast moving "bubbles" at the inner edge of the
outer plasma ring, as mass is accreted from the inner-wire-array plasma, allows slower moving
"spikes" at the back of the outer plasma ring to catch up and sweep up material in the inner ring. This
decreases the width of the combined plasma ring as it moves toward the axis. On a recent experiment
on the Z facility (shot 179 on January 16), we obtained an x-ray output pulse of 4 nanoseconds. This
pulse width corresponds to a peak radiated power of 290 terawatts, 45% higher than with a single
array. The higher radiated powers can be expected to produce higher radiation temperatures than the
140 eV obtained so far for a single wire array with either a vacuum hohlraum or a dynamic hohlraum.
After the optimum radii and number of wires for the double array configuration are determined, we will
test both hohlraum types with the double-wire-array source.
Other Reports on High Energy Density and Inertial Confinement Fusion
Back to top of page
PPT Main |
Programs & Capabilities |
NCPPRI |
Facilities |
News and Reviews |
Related Resources
© Sandia Corporation | Site Contact
| Site Map
| Privacy and Security
|
