Implosion dynamics of condensed Z-pinch at the Angara-5-1 facility

• Published in: Plasma physics reports 2017-08, Vol.43 (8), p.824-832
• Main Authors: Aleksandrov, V. V., Grabovski, E. V., Gritsuk, A. N., Volobuev, I. V., Kazakov, E. D., Kalinin, Yu. G., Korolev, V. D., Laukhin, Ya. I., Medovshchikov, S. F., Mitrofanov, K. N., Oleinik, G. M., Pimenov, V. G., Smirnova, E. A., Ustroev, G. I., Frolov, I. N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ACTIVATION DETECTORS; Agar; ANGARA-5 DEVICE; Atomic; Cylinders; Deuteration; Diagnostic systems; Dynamics; Energy measurement; Flux density; HOT PLASMA; IMPLOSIONS; INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; Load; Loads (forces); Molecular; NEUTRON EMISSION; NEUTRONS; Optical and Plasma Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; PINCH DEVICES; Plasma Dynamics; PLASMA EXPANSION; Plasmas (physics); Polyethylene; POLYETHYLENES; PULSE RISE TIME; SCINTILLATION COUNTERS; Sensors; Short pulses; SOFT X RADIATION; Soft x rays; SPECTROSCOPY; Spots; X ray detectors
• ISSN: 1063-780X; 1562-6938
• DOI: 10.1134/S1063780X17080025

The implosion dynamics of a condensed Z-pinch at load currents of up to 3.5 MA and a current rise time of 100 ns was studied experimentally at the Angara-5-1 facility. To increase the energy density, 1- to 3-mm-diameter cylinders made of a deuterated polyethylene−agar-agar mixture or microporous deuterated polyethylene with a mass density of 0.03–0.5 g/cm 3 were installed in the central region of the loads. The plasma spatiotemporal characteristics were studied using the diagnostic complex of the Angara-5-1 facility, including electron-optical streak and frame imaging, time-integrated X-ray imaging, soft X-ray (SXR) measurements, and vacuum UV spectroscopy. Most information on the plasma dynamics was obtained using a ten-frame X-ray camera ( Е > 100 eV) with an exposure of 4 ns. SXR pulses were recorded using photoemissive vacuum X-ray detectors. The energy characteristics of neutron emission were measured using the time-offlight method with the help of scintillation detectors arranged along and across the pinch axis. The neutron yield was measured by activation detectors. The experimental results indicate that the plasma dynamics depends weakly on the load density. As a rule, two stages of plasma implosion were observed. The formation of hot plasma spots in the initial stage of plasma expansion from the pinch axis was accompanied by short pulses of SXR and neutron emission. The neutron yield reached (0.4–3) × 10 10 neutrons/shot and was almost independent of the load density due to specific features of Z-pinch dynamics.