Space- and time-resolved interferometry of plasma-filled rod-pinch diodes

This paper presents results from interferometric diagnosis of plasma dynamics in a plasma-filled rod-pinch diode (PFRP) on GAMBLE II at NRL, with diode voltages and currents of 1MV and 600 kA respectively. A high sensitivity interferometer shows the time history of the prefill plasma moving past the anode tip propelled by a J/spl I.oarr//spl times/B/spl I.oarr/ snowplow. Images from a 2-D holographic interferometer show the gun plasma MHD evolution and show the anode tip explode after the start of the X-ray pulse. The results of these studies will be used as experimental benchmarks in the theoretical studies of the PFRP.