The implosion dynamics of quasi-spherical wire arrays with different initial aspect ratios are investigated with a multi-element model, and the simulated results are compared with experimental results in the Qiangguang-1 Facility in 2011. According to the simulation, the pinch plasmas implode in different modes when the aspect ratios of the initial wire arrays are different. The aspect ratio of the wire array in shot 11259 is 0.76, and the simulated pinch plasma implodes onto the equatorial surface. In shot 11268, the aspect ratio is 1.33 and the plasma implodes onto the central axis. In shot 11270, the aspect ratio is 1.05 and the plasma implodes toward the central point of the load. The simulated shapes of the plasma shells are in good accordance with the experimental time-resolved x-ray framing images. The simulated imploding times are consistent with the experimental x-ray peak times. The quasi-spherical implosion is more effective in driving inertial controlled fusion.
Implosion dynamics of wire array Z-pinches: experiments at Imperial College