K-shell radiation physics in low-to moderate-atomic-number z-pinch plasmas on the Z accelerator.

Dense z-pinches produced by 100 ns implosions of wire arrays or gas puffs produce substantial soft X-ray power. One class of z-pinch radiation sources includes low- to moderate-atomic-number K-shell radiators, such as aluminum and iron. These loads are designed for 1-10 keV K-shell X-ray generation, and offer opportunities for crystal spectroscopy that can reveal fundamental properties of the plasma when studied using plasma spectroscopic modeling. Typically these plasmas are characterized by ion densities of {approx} 10{sup 20} cm{sup -3}, diameters of 1-5 mm, electron temperatures up to several keV, and a range of opacities of the K-shell lines. Measurements from wire arrays on Sandia's 20 MA Z accelerator are presented along with collisional radiative and hydrodynamic simulations. The impact of opacity and 3D structure on non-LTE, non-diffusive radiation transport and X-ray production is discussed.