Measurement of temperature, density, and particle transport with localized dopants in wire-array Z pinches

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Mar 14;100(10):105003. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.105003. Epub 2008 Mar 11.

Abstract

Axially localized NaF dopants are coated onto Al cylindrical wire arrays in order to act as spectroscopic tracers in the stagnated z-pinch plasma. Non-local-thermodynamic-equilibrium kinetic models fit to Na K-shell lines provide an independent measurement of the density and temperature that is consistent with spectroscopic analysis of K-shell emissions from Al and an alloyed Mg dopant. Axial transport of the Na dopant is observed, enabling quantitative study of instabilities in dense z-pinch plasmas.