Electromagnetic implosion of metal liners

Abstract
Cylindrical aluminum shells have been imploded at velocities ≳2 mm/μs in a Z-pinch discharge driven by a 100-kJ capacitor bank. The velocity and symmetry of the imploding liners were determined from flash x-ray pictures, and the compression of an axial magnetic field was measured with pickup coils. The results are consistent with numerical calculations of the implosion dynamics. The implosions are symmetric and stable when strongly driven. Buckling is observed in slower implosions