INFLUENCE OF L-SHELL DYNAMICS ON K-SHELL YIELDS FOR IMPLODING KRYPTON Z-PINCH PLASMAS

The radiative performance of a Z-pinch krypton puff gas heated by a proposed multiterawatt generator is investigated with the aid of a one-dimensional (1-D) non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) radiation hydrodynamic model self-consistently coupled to a circuit model. For stable loads configured either as cylindrical annular shells or uniform fills, predictions are made for the K- and L-shell soft x-ray emission as a function of the L-shell level structure. The results of numerical simulations show that both the thin annular shell and uniform fill are prolific K- and L-shell radiators. It is also predicted that the L-shell level structure profoundly affects the optimum K-shell soft x-ray yield, as well as the choices for load mass corresponding to optimum emission. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.