SELECTED PROPERTIES OF TERAWATT Z-PINCHES FROM TEMPORALLY AND SPATIALLY RESOLVED SPECTROSCOPY

X-ray diagnostics such as time-resolved pinhole cameras and time-resolved crystal and grazing incidence spectrometers are used to examine the dynamics of the implosion and radiation phases of gas puff, wire array and single wire Z-pinches. Unique measurements include: the measurement of a radial collapse velocity of 40 cm/mu-s from Doppler splitting of argon XUV lines; the axial variation in the ratio of the 2P 1/2 and 2P 3/2 fine structure components of the aluminum Ly-alpha line due to localized dense spots; and the time evolution of the plasma electron density from the temporal behavior of the ratio of the aluminum He-like resonance to intercombination lines. Moreover, the electron densities on hot spots in aluminum and titanium Z-pinches are found to be between 5x10(21) to 10(22) cm-3.