Soft and ultrasoft X‐Ray Measurements of Air Force Weapons Laboratory Shiva Imploding Plasma Liner

Measurements of the radiation from high energy density plasmas formed by electromagnetic implosion of aluminized plastic cylindrical foil liners are discussed. The implosions were driven by the SHIVA capacitor bank‐originally a 1.1 MJ, 1.2 microsecond, 100 KV device, later upgraded to 1.9 MJ, 1.4 microseconds, 120 KV. Discharge currents were 7 to 12 MA and implosion times 1.2 to 1.5 microseconds. Photon pulses were observed using arrays of x‐ray photodiodes, calorimeters and bolometers, x‐ray pinhole cameras, convex curved crystal and grazing incidene grating spectrographs. Photon pulse energies from 100 KJ to 240 KJ were observed (assuming isotropic emission) with FWHM from 80 to 200 nanoseconds. The best combined photon yield and FWHM was 240 KJ, 130 nanoseconds. Bolometer, calorimeter, x‐ray photodiode comparisons, time‐resolved spectra deconvoluted fromm x‐ray photodiode array data and detailed spectrograph data are discussed. Neutron measurements from deuterated liner implosions (yields up to 4×108) ...