Parameters of high-pressure megaampere discharge channel during its contraction

Results of determination of the discharge channel parameters in iron plasma for a stage of its maximal contraction are presented. Amplitude of the discharge current was of 500–1500 kA, current rise rate of 5 × 10¹⁰ A/s, surrounding gas pressure of 5–7 MPa. Results of intensity measurements for own plasma soft x-ray radiation and registration of radius evolution of current channel of the discharge, received with the help of magnetic probe diagnostics, confirm a hypothesis about radiative character of the discharge contraction. The developed system of soft x-ray radiation registration gives the discharge channel temperature of 72–73 eV and allows to register changes of temperature in some electronvolts. (paper)