Formation of a Composite Pinch

We present basic principles of formation of the composite pinch, a particular variation of the Z pinch in which a successive transfer of current within the plasma structure is used to provide considerably better control of the pinch radiative properties. A model is presented, describing the particular regimes characterizing this plasma configuration. Experimental realization of the described composite pinch scheme confirms the main conclusions of the model and demonstrates higher spatial and temporal homogeneity of the x-ray source, with more powerful keV-range radiation from the final collapse.