Numerical/Experimental Study of Z- ϴ Pinch Device

Abstract

The study of hot dense plasmas as a possible pulsed X-ray source has been ‎carried out for decades. The subject of X-ray laser is also gaining attention ‎of a large section of the scientific community. In the project under ‎consideration, the feasibility of using Z-ϴ pinch device as an intense source ‎of X-rays is under investigation. This project was for a period of two years. ‎The first year of the project was for the procurement of the equipment and ‎theoretical/numerical modelling of the annular gas puff Z-pinch. Apart from ‎the local fabrication of the equipment, some of the components for the ‎equipment were to be imported. During this year we were able to purchase ‎the Helmholtz coil and get the related component fabricated. The capacitors ‎bank for the Helmholtz coil has been designed and developed. A pressurised ‎sparkgap has also been designed locally. For the purchase of the main ‎capacitors, we had applied to an American Company. The company asked ‎the American Embassy in Pakistan to investigate the motives behind the ‎purchase of these capacitors. The American Embassy, after their ‎satisfaction, has eventually allowed the company for the deal. But due to ‎unknown reasons the company did not fulfil its commitment and fails to ‎supply the required capacitors. We are trying to obtain the mentioned ‎capacitors from some other sources and hopefully will be able to get in a ‎few months time. The transformer and other components for the power ‎supply have been purchased and the autocontrol circuit has been designed ‎and completed locally. A huge platform and most parts of the vacuum ‎system have been fabricated locally, these parts include the sophisticated ‎fast gas puff valve. The design of the vacuum chamber of stainless steel has ‎been completed and the machining/fabrication is in progress. The theoretical ‎work proposed for this project is in progress. Interesting results have been ‎obtained by modifying the codes of earlier workers. After analysis, these ‎results have been published in an international journal for publication (see ‎copy attached). The modification has been made to simulate the ‎experimental conditions of plasmas expected to be generated in our z-e ‎pinch device. The results of this study has been submitted for publication in ‎an international journal.