x-Ray spectroscopic investigation of the stabilisation of a plasma column in a composite Z pinch

An experimental x-ray spectroscopic investigation was made of the stabilisation of a Z pinch with a composite load in the GAEL (225 kA, 50 ns) accelerator. Kinetic calculations of the intensities of the L lines in the spectrum of copper were used for the first time to determine the parameters of a plasma [N_e ≈ (1 – 2) × 10²⁰ cm^–3, T_e ≈ 300 keV formed by injection of a cylindrical aluminium-plasma jet imploding onto an axial copper wire. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were made of the stabilisation of the Z pinch with a composite load. Spectroscopic methods were used to demonstrate the stabilising influence of the plasma jet. The results indicated that it should be possible to construct a homogeneous high-temperature plasma column.