Studies of xuv and x-ray radiation from wire-array Z pinches on COBRA using an x-ray streak camera

Summary form only given. Time- and space-resolved short-wave length radiation from wire-array Z pinches has been studied using a low-magnification Kentech X-ray streak camera in experiments on the 1 MA COBRA pulsed power generator at Cornell University. To extend the spectral band recorded by the camera, a standard photocathode was replaced by a specially made transparent mesh-type photocathode. In the soft X-ray spectral band (lambda ~ 1-10 Aring), an imaging slit was used to record one-dimensional images in the axial direction. Axial or radial images of wire arrays were recorded in XUV radiation (lambda < 300 Aring) using an open pinhole of 100 mum diameter. The dynamics of the radiating plasma, probably associated with current sheath, was studied in XUV radiation. The development of the precursor plasma and hot spots in the stagnated plasma have been observed in X-ray emission. The images were compared with images obtained with an optical streak camera and a 4-frame gated microchannel plate imager, as well as with the results obtained using fast B-dot probes.