Abstract:
The study of hot dense plasmas as a possible pulsed X-ray source has been carried out for decades. The subject of X-ray laser is also gaining attention of a large section of the scientific community. In the project under consideration, the feasibility of using Z-ϴ pinch device as an intense source of X-rays is under investigation. This project was for a period of two years. The first year of the project was for the procurement of the equipment and theoretical/numerical modelling of the annular gas puff Z-pinch. Apart from the local fabrication of the equipment, some of the components for the equipment were to be imported. During this year we were able to purchase the Helmholtz coil and get the related component fabricated. The capacitors bank for the Helmholtz coil has been designed and developed. A pressurised sparkgap has also been designed locally. For the purchase of the main capacitors, we had applied to an American Company. The company asked the American Embassy in Pakistan to investigate the motives behind the purchase of these capacitors. The American Embassy, after their satisfaction, has eventually allowed the company for the deal. But due to unknown reasons the company did not fulfil its commitment and fails to supply the required capacitors. We are trying to obtain the mentioned capacitors from some other sources and hopefully will be able to get in a few months time. The transformer and other components for the power supply have been purchased and the autocontrol circuit has been designed and completed locally. A huge platform and most parts of the vacuum system have been fabricated locally, these parts include the sophisticated fast gas puff valve. The design of the vacuum chamber of stainless steel has been completed and the machining/fabrication is in progress. The theoretical work proposed for this project is in progress. Interesting results have been obtained by modifying the codes of earlier workers. After analysis, these results have been published in an international journal for publication (see copy attached). The modification has been made to simulate the experimental conditions of plasmas expected to be generated in our z-e pinch device. The results of this study has been submitted for publication in an international journal.
