Current Switching and 0D-like Implosions Produced Using Inverse Wire Array Z-Pinches

Experiments using an inverse (exploding) wire array setup (where the wires hang down from a central current conductor, acting as a return current cage) to rapidly switch current into a cylindrical wire array have been fielded on the MAGPIE generator (1.5MA, 240ns). The setup has been found to rapidly switch current into the cylindrical array, delivering $\sim $1.5MA in 95ns. The implosion of the cylindrical array deviates substantially from the standard snowplough dynamics, suppressing the ablation phase and producing a 0D-like implosion. Data suggests that the change in dynamics is due to a $\sim $5kA pre-pulse driven over 10ns into the cylindrical array over 100ns before the current switch operates which preconditions the wires in the array. This paper will focus on the effectiveness of the current switch.