High energy photon radiation from a Z-pinch plasma

A new approach to the generation of kilovolt x ray radiation in Z-pinch plasma radiation sources is proposed. In cases where the pulse power machine has insufficient energy to efficiently produce K-shell emission from the atomic number element that emits in the required kilovolt energy range, it may be advantageous to produce x rays by recombination radiation emitted from a lower atomic number plasma. The optimal load conditions for maximizing the high energy free-bound continuum radiation that can be produced in a given spectral range are analyzed. The largest yield is expected from a highest-atomic-number element that could efficiently produce K-shell yield on a given pulse power machine. Two options available for the choice of a wire array material to generate x rays with photon energies above 7-8 keV are identified and discussed, aluminum and titanium. The analytical estimates and simulation results for "Z" machine implosions show that continuum radiation from an aluminum plasma in this spectral range could exceed the K-shell output from nickel. If a titanium plasma could be ionized to a H-like state on "Z," then its yield above 7 keV should be higher compared to that of aluminum by a factor of 3 to 4. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.