Investigation of implosion dynamics and magnetic fields in 1-MA wire arrays by optical probing diagnostics*

Multiframe optical probing diagnostics were applied for the investigation of implosion dynamics and magnetic fields in z-pinch plasma of wire arrays and x-pinches at the Nevada Terawatt Facility (NTF). Five shadow frames per shot, with a long 34-ns or short 9-ns pulse train, presents fine details of plasma evolution in the wire array. A Faraday rotation diagnostic consists of identical shadow and Faraday channels, shearing air-wedge interferometer, and schlieren channel. Evolution of the wire array z-pinch in different regimes of implosion was investigated. Fast dynamics of bubbles in plasma streams were studied in detail. A current in the plasma column of Al wire arrays and magnetic bubbles were found by the Faraday rotation diagnostic.