X-ray backlighting of wire array Z-pinch implosions using X pinch

The dynamics of wire arrays have been studied using a point-projection X-pinch x-ray backlighter installed in one of the return posts of the MAGPIE generator. Variations of diameter (15-50 mum aluminum) and number of wires (two or four) in the X-pinch enabled backlit images in the range of 140-200 ns after the current start. A temporal and spatial resolution of <1 ns and 5 mum is achieved. The radiographic images of aluminum wire array show that the wire cores are present at the original position until 80% of the implosion time and the size of the wire cores is 0.25 mm for aluminum and 0.1 mm for tungsten. A very fine structure of the order of 10 mum has been observed in titanium wire arrays. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.