Ablation Studies of Low-Number Wire Arrays at 200 kA Using A Linear Transformer Driver

We present the preliminary results from the first ablation studies of wire-array
z
-pinches using a short-pulse linear transformer driver (LTD) providing a current of 200 kA in 150 ns. Laser imaging is used to recover the ablation-flare wavelength for comparison with previous studies and to provide quantitative information on the axial-density variation of this structure. The results are used to determine the general form of the variation of the ablation velocity in the axial direction, and fits to data can infer the range of values required to describe observed modulation. In addition, conical arrays demonstrate the formation and propagation of moderate atomic-number plasma jets comparable with those observed in mega-ampere experiments.