Z-pinch implosions onto extremely low-density foam cylinders

We have imploded xenon gas-puff Z pinches onto small diameter, extremely low-density foam cylinders ( ρ=0.0045 g/cm3). The presence of the foam on the cylindrical axis had little effect on the radiation production efficiency, pulse width, or spectral details, but it significantly improved the symmetry and uniformity of the stagnation. These experiments confirm that we can stagnate and thermalize a high velocity (5×107 cm/s) plasma onto a cold, low-density target and suggest the feasibility of creating a homogeneous plasma for x-ray laser studies.