X-ray emission scaling and energy balance of small gas-puff Z-pinch

Gas-puff Z-pinch is discussed as an intensive pulsed source of soft X-rays. Measurements of total X-ray yield YT and the yield YK from K shells of highly ionized atoms af argon, neon, and nitrogen are presented. The radiation produced by a small-scale (4.3 kJ) gas-puff Z-pinch confirmed the YK approximately=I4 scaling (well known from large devices) for pinch currents I=120-200 kA. Some basic considerations about the energy balance of the Z-pinch as well as similarities between terawatt and gigawatt devices are expressed.