Fig. 1. Current waveforms for the three discharge modes.

Fig. 2. Sketch of an X-pinch.

Fig. 3. (a) Typical image of x-ray point source and (b) waveform of an x-ray pulse from an X-pinch.

Fig. 4. PCR image of a 3-mm-long ant.

Fig. 5. Physical process involved in the formation of a wire-array Z-pinch.

Fig. 6. Experimental arrangement for x-ray backlighting of wire-array Z-pinch.

Fig. 7. Typical images of EEWA with two molybdenum wires of diameter 50 μm spaced 2 mm apart: (a) 61 ns, 172 kA; (b) 67 ns, 188 kA. (c) Waveforms of the current and x-ray pulses.

Fig. 8. An insulator as a flashover switch inserted in the cathode to realize core-free EEW.

Fig. 9. Radial electric fields on the wire surface.

Fig. 10. Interferograms of EEW (a) without and (b) with a flashover switch.

Fig. 11. Experimental setup of EEW for nanopowder production.

Fig. 12. Dependences of deposition rate η and plasma energy W_p on charging voltage.

Fig. 13. TEM images of nanopowders obtained with charging voltages of (a) 9 kV and (b) 24 kV.

Fig. 14. Dependences of specific surface area and average diameter of nanoparticles on deposition rate η at a nitrogen pressure of 20 kPa.

Fig. 15. Dependences of specific surface area and average diameter of nanoparticles on nitrogen pressure at a charging voltage of 80 kV.

Fig. 16. Typical shock-wave pressure waveform showing two shock waves (SW): one generated by melting and the other by vaporization.

Fig. 17. Process by which the shock wave generated by vaporization overtakes the shock wave generated by melting as E_d increases.

Fig. 18. Comparison of discharge modes: (a) cutoff current mode with the 200-μF capacitor bank; (b) restrike mode with the 1-μF capacitor bank.