HIGHER EFFICIENCY X-RAY LOAD DESIGNS FOR Z-PINCH IMPLOSIONS

IT IS PROPOSED TO DESIGN A SET OF NOVEL LOAD GEOMETRICS FOR HIGH CURRENT Z-PINCHES. THESE GEOMETRICS COULD LEAD TO SIGNIFICENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FLASH X-RAY CAPABILITIES OF EXISTING OF EXISTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS EFFECTS SIMULATORS, FOR BOTH SOFT X-RAYS (1-5 KEV) AND WARM X-RAYS (5-15KEV). MOST EXISTING WEAPONS EFFECTS X-RAYS SOURCES IMPLODE SIMPLE, ANNULAR WIRE-ARRAYS OR SUPERSONIC GAS PUFFS TO PRODUCE Z-PINCHES THAT EMIT X-RAY BURSTS. MORE COMPLEX LOAD CONFIGURATIONS, SUCH AS NESTED WIRE -ARRAYS OR A GAS PUFF IMPLODING ONTO AN INNER WIRE ARRAY, COULD TAILOR THE IMPLOSION TO INCREASE THE K-SHELL FRACTION OF THETOTAL X-RAY YIELD, ALTHOUGH THE TOTAL ENERGY COUPLED FROM DRIVER TO LOAD REMAINS THE SAME. IT IS PROPOSED TO STUDY SEVERAL CANDIDATE NESTED ARRAYS TO SELECT PROMISING CONFIGURATIONS FOR HIGH CURRENT TESTS DURING PHASE II.