Current scaling of optimum K-shell X-ray yield and load mass applied to argon gas-puff Z-pinches

A simple two-level radiation-scaling model has previously been shown to agree with 0.7-MA neon gas-puff and 7-MA aluminum wire-array experiments. Here, the scalings of optimum load mass and peak K-shell yield with current for argon gas puffs are compared with data over an order-of-magnitude current variation. Optimum load conditions are determined by maximizing K-shell yield subject to fixed implosion energy, resulting in peak yield and optimum mass as functions of implosion energy and stagnation radius. The scalings with current result from implosion-energy and implosion-time relations that fit double eagle nested-shell argon gas-puff results. Both the maximum-yield and optimum-mass scalings provide good absolute-value fits to the data, including the variation with implosion time.