The application of high intensive Z-pinch radiation and heavy ion beams for research on high energy density physics

Abstract

ANGARA-5-I Z-pinch facility produces plasma with temperatures up to 80 eV and the radiation flux up to 5 TW/cm/sup 2/. The definite attention is paid on the studies of the interaction of the powerful radiation with different substances. The experiments with the targets with normal density allow to study formation and propagation of the shock waves, to accelerate thin foils and in accompany with the numerical modelling to investigate the thermodynamical and hydrodynamical properties of the matters. The experiments with the ultralow density targets allow to study heat waves and give information about the transport phenomena and optical characteristics of the foams. The results of the investigations showed that a Z-pinch plasma is a promising source for the high energy density physics studies. The greater duration of the radiation pulse together with high spatial homogeneity of the irradiation flux compared with conversion of laser radiation into X-rays makes it possible to increase the target thickness and, thus, significantly reduce the effect of sample preheating, which distorts the hydrodynamical picture of the process. The set of parameters of the ITEP-TWAC facility opens opportunity for experiments addressing some fundamental issues in the physics of dense plasmas like EOS, thermodynamics of strongly compressed matter, plasma phase transitions etc. and experiments related to the physics of HIF targets, especially cylindrical targets with magnetized fuel.