[en] Results of experiments studying the effect of a ringing 10 kA current prepulse on a 160 kA, 7 μm carbon fibre z-pinch are presented. A prepulse duration of 100-300 ns was found to radically alter the pinch behaviour. A delayed onset in x-ray and optical emission with respect to the main current was observed. There was a marked improvement of axial uniformity in the pinch. A large soft x-ray pulse, ten to twenty times larger than in discharges without prepulse was recorded. An electron temperature of 250±50 eV was measured which was considerably higher than in the discharges without prepulse

[en] A table-top capillary discharge soft X-ray laser system has recently been developed at Imperial College in order to evaluate its potential as a back-lighting source for solid density hydrogen plasmas. 1-D MHD simulations incorporating non-LTE ionization dynamics indicate the generation of the neon-like ionization stage of argon just prior to stagnation of the cylindrically converging shock. The experimental measurements of the collapse dynamics are compared to the simulation. End-on measurements show soft X-ray emission coincident with collapse. At the time of going to press no spectral resolution of this soft X-ray emission had been obtained. Possible methods of increasing output power and operation at different wavelengths, are discussed

[en] Insect mass-rearing for a sterile insect technique (SIT) programme is designed to move beyond the large-scale rearing of insects in a laboratory to the industrial production of consistently high-quality insects for sterilization and release. Each facility reflects the unique biology of the insect reared within it, but there are some generalities for all rearing facilities. Rearing insects in self-contained modules offers flexibility, and increased safety from catastrophic occurrences, compared with using a single building which houses all facets of the rearing process. Although mechanizing certain aspects of the rearing steps helps provide a consistently high-quality insect, successful mass-rearing and delivery depends largely upon the human component. Besides production in centralized facilities, insects can be produced from purchased eggs, or nowadays, adult insects are often obtained from specialized satellite emergence/collection facilities. Interest in commercializing insect production and release is increasing. Shipping sterile insects, sometimes over long distances, is now common practice. Procedures for handling and chilling adult insects, and providing food and water prior to release, are continually being improved. Sterile insects are released via static-release receptacles, ground-release systems, or most commonly from the air. The aerial release of chilled sterile insects is the most efficient method of release, especially when aircraft flight paths are guided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) linked to a computer-controlled release mechanism. (author)

[en] A series of fibre pinch experiments has been carried out on MAGPIE generator (1.8 MA, 150 ns) to study the coronal plasma. The analysis of schlieren photographs, axial streak images and gated x-ray pictures allows the evaluation the radial and axial motion of the corona plasma. Radial expansion velocity of 5.5x10⁶ cm/s for carbon fibre and 3.6x10⁶ cm/s for carbon with current prepulse was measured. Axial wavelengths of dominant instabilities in the corona were λ_z=0.05-0.2 cm corresponding to ka∼10-20. Comparisons of the results obtained with carbon fibres with and without current prepulse (30 kA, 200 ns) and deuterium fibres are presented