Gas-Puff-on-Wire-Array $Z$-Pinch Experiments on the GIT-12 Generator at Microsecond Implosion Times

Results of the experiments carried out on the GIT-12 generator at the current level of 3.5 MA and the Z-pinch implosion times from 700 ns to 1.1 mus are reported. A gas-puff-on-wire-array (triple-shell) load configuration with the outer double gas puff (neon) and the inner wire array (aluminum) was used in the experiments. In the course of the research, implosion dynamics of the triple-shell Z-pinch was studied, and the radiation yield in the spectral range of neon and aluminum K-shell X-rays has been measured. Optimization of the inner wire array parameters (masses and initial diameters) aimed at obtaining the maximum aluminum K-shell radiation yield has been carried out.