Infrared and Millimeter Wave Radiometry & Phase Contrast on Gas Puff Z-Pinch Plasmas*

Measuring a gas puff Z-pinch plasma's magnetic field, turbulent flow, radiation, and kinetic energy during the implosion phase can help improve the understanding of its behavior at stagnation. To make time resolved radiated power and plasma temperature measurements, a set of Millimeter Wave (MMW) and Infrared (IR) radiometers have been fielded on Cornell University's ~ 1-MA COBRA driver [1]. Additionally, to better characterize the plasma's turbulence a Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) system will be fielded. The MMW radiometers operated at 10, 94, and 119 GHz, and the IR radiometers operated at 1100, 1310, and 1550 nm. The PCI diagnostic will characterize the fluctuating intensity levels and the k-spectrum of light scattered from a Nd:YLF laser source after passing through the plasma regions. Highlighted are the radiometers and PCI system designs and calibration techniques as well as several initial measurements of Ne and Ar gas puff Z-pinches.