An X-ray Backlighting Technique Based on Using X-Pinch Radiation for Probing the Plasma of Multiwire Imploding Liners at the Angara-5-1 Facility

A method for determining the substance density distribution in the plasma produced by a current-driven implosion of multiwire tungsten liners at the Angara-5-1 facility is described. This method is based on the X-ray probing of plasma with radiation from a point source. As a source of this radiation, an X pinch is used. The time resolution (<2 ns) was determined by the X pinch. The probing of both the liner peripheral and near-axial regions is considered. The plasma-attenuated X-pinch radiation was detected using photographic film and p–i–n diodes in the first and second approach, respectively. The spatial resolutions (over the object) in both cases were determined by the sizes of the X pinch and p–i–n diodes and amounted to 4 and 44 μm, respectively. The design of the X-pinch and the dependence of its radiation characteristics (the burst time moment and the radiation-pulse power and duration) on the electric and design parameters of the circuit and load are described. The experimental data on the X-pinch radiation spectrum in the range of photon energies of 1–20 keV and the results of studying the substance-density distribution inside liners during the current-driven implosion at the Angara-5-1 facility are presented.