Radial Current Distribution of a Gas-Puff Self Imploding Plasma Close to Stagnation

High resolution spectroscopic measurements of the radial distribution of the current in a self-imploding z-pinch plasma column were made. The experimental system was especially designed for an efficient light collection, which in turn enabled us to use short time gates in the spectral measurements. Recording the spectral emission within these relatively short time gates (10 ns), revealed that the ion charge states were not “spread” radially, but existed in “rings” of plasma around the axis of implosion. These rings enabled a more precise chordal analysis of the spectral line, and thus the determination of the magnetic field at 2–4 different radii positions, at one axial position, and on the same shot. In this work we will present the detailed radial distribution of the current in the imploding plasma, at different times, close and at stagnation, close to the gap anode. Implications of these results will be discussed.