Coupling of radiation and hydrodynamics in a Z-pinch plasma

The relationship between hydrodynamics and radiative energy loss from a gas puff Z pinch was studied using helium, krypton, and a helium–krypton mixture. The results show that radiation cooling enables the magnetic field to compress the plasma to a higher electron density and a smaller final radius. The data are consistent with a simple model describing the thermalization of the plasma on the axis of the pinch. The spectrum of the krypton radiation from the mixture was harder than from the pure krypton pinch. This may be important for application of the Z pinch as a radiation source.