Quantitative Measurements of Ablation in Wire Array Z-Pinches

The long-time scale ablation of the wires in a wire array z-pinch is crucial in determining its subsequent implosion and X-ray emission. Using a combination of interferometry and Faraday probing, we report on direct measurements of the current and mass density profiles in cylindrical, radial and inverse wire array z-pinches leading up to and during implosion. The results are compared and contracted to the rocket ablation model and to both 2 and 3-D MHD simulations. This research was sponsored by Sandia National Labs and the NNSA under DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-F03-02NA00057.