Summary form only given. The paper presents investigation results on development of soft X-ray radiation sources based on imploding multi-wire Z-pinches, powered from magneto-cumulative generators. Parameters of the source, realized with fast helical magneto-cumulative generator MCG-200, are close to calculation results: an energy of the X-ray radiation is 180 kJ in a pulse with the width at half height of ~20 ns, the pinch plasma temperature is 65 eV, a current amplitude in the liner load is 5.3 MA at a rise time of 400 ns. The research on optimization of the X-ray radiation source parameters with the power source based on the magneto-cumulative generator of 240 mm diameter are being continued. Up to now the current of 14 MA amplitude and rise time of 1.3 mus could be supplied into the liner load . A length of the generated pulse of the X-ray radiation is 60 ns at half height, the pinch plasma temperature is ~60 eV.

Results are presented from experiments on the implosion of wire arrays powered from 100-and 200-mm-diameter helical explosive magnetocumulative generators with explosive opening switches. The experiments were performed at load currents of up to 4 MA, the current rise time being 0.3–0.4 μs. The maximum soft X-ray yield of ∼ 100 kJ was achieved at a pinch plasma temperature of 55 eV. A two-dimensional MHD code was developed to simulate the process of liner implosion and the generation of X-ray emission. The results of computer simulations agree satisfactorily with the experimental data.