Innovative Loads Under contract from DSWA, HY-Tech is developing and testing innovative loads for Z-pinch simulators. The loads are aluminum ribbons doped with Si and Mg impurities. The microstructure and composition of the ribbons are examined at the Department of Energy's High Temperature Materials Lab (HTML) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee  For more information see HTML No. 97-057 and HTML No. 98-077 (these are PDF documents) The Ribbons are tested at the radiation simulator facility in San Leandro, CA managed for DSWA by Maxwell Physics International.  Under Subcontract from PI, HY-Tech is studing the implosion of Z-pinch loads using laser-based diagnostic techniques developed at HY-Tech.   Plasma Opening Switches Under contract from DSWA, HY-Tech is studing the evolution of the plasma current density in a plasma opening switch using two methods: High-resolution doppler spectroscopy  Two-phase holographic interferometry/Polarimetry  Under a phase II SBIR from DSWA, HY-Tech has developed an innovative approach to fueling a plasma opening switch. The approach, based on the inverse pinch concept, has the advantage of providing a pre-ionized plasma and control of the plasma composition.