Study of the internal structure and small-scale instabilities in the dense Z pinch

High-resolution laser diagnostics at the wavelength of 266 nm were applied for the investigation of Z pinches at the 1-MA generator. The internal structure of the stagnated Z pinches was observed in unprecedented detail. A dense pinch with strong instabilities was seen inside the column of the trailing plasma. Kink instability, disruptions, and micropinches were seen at the peak of the x-ray pulse and later in time. The three-dimensional structure of the stagnated Z pinch depends on the initial wire-array configuration and implosion scenario. Small-scale density perturbations were found in the precursor plasma and in the stagnated Z pinch. Development of instabilities is in agreement with three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations.     

Toroidal momentum pinch velocity due to the coriolis drift effect on small scale instabilities in a toroidal plasma

In this Letter, the influence of the "Coriolis drift" on small scale instabilities in toroidal plasmas is shown to generate a toroidal momentum pinch velocity. Such a pinch results because the Coriolis drift generates a coupling between the density and temperature perturbations on the one hand and the perturbed parallel flow velocity on the other. A simple fluid model is used to highlight the physics mechanism and gyro-kinetic calculations are performed to accurately assess the magnitude of the pinch. The derived pinch velocity leads to a radial gradient of the toroidal velocity profile even in the absence of a torque on the plasma and is predicted to generate a peaking of the toroidal velocity profile similar to the peaking of the density profile. Finally, the pinch also affects the interpretation of current experiments.     

Macroscopic Stability of Charged Particle Streams

We compare the analysis of macroscopic instabilities of pinch systems based on classical hydromagnetic theory with an analysis based on two-fluid electromagnetic hydrodynamics. In contrast to the predictions of the hydromagnetic theory, where the sausage-type instability is thought to predominate, the two-fluid electromagnetic hydrodynamics approach indicates that filamentation of the current channel is the most important mechanism at work. We conclude that macroscopic instabilities are not insurmountable obstacles for the laboratory realization of the electromagnetic collapse; that is, the contraction of plasma by the magnetic field of its own current to the condense state.     

On a step-like magnetic piston in a low density theta pinch

The origin of the “step-like” characteristic in a magnetic piston of a low density theta pinch is discussed. The characteristic can be fairly well explained by an anomalous resistivity due to ion acoustic instabilities.     

Microtearing modes in reversed field pinch plasmas

In the reversed field pinch RFX-mod strong electron temperature gradients develop when the single-helical-axis regime is achieved. Gyrokinetic calculations show that in the region of the strong temperature gradients microtearing instabilities are the dominant turbulent mechanism acting on the ion Larmor radius scale. The quasilinear evaluation of the electron thermal conductivity is in good agreement with the experimental estimates.     

Untersuchung der Ionenenergieverteilung in einer starken stoßfreien Kompressionswelle

In a strong collisionfree implosion wave generated by a fast theta pinch discharge the density profile and the distribution of ion energies are investigated by spectroscopic methods. At low initial pressures (20 mTorrD ₂) an overturning of the ion sheath leads to an extended density profile and an effective thermalization of the ions in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field with energies up to 500 eV, which are comparable with the energies of the directed ion motion. However, the thermal ion energies parallel to the direction of the magnetic field are lower by more than a factor of 2. This anisotropy may not be destroyed by ion two-stream instabilities, but possibly by anisotropy instabilities.     

Resistive-wall-mode active rotation in the RFX-mod device

The fundamental question of how the flow velocity of the background plasma can influence the motion of magnetohydrodynamics instabilities and, in the ultimate analysis, their stability is addressed. The growth of resistive-wall-mode instabilities in toroidal confinement devices well represents one example of such a problem. In this Letter, we illustrate a new strategy that allowed, for the first time in a reversed field pinch experiment, a fully controlled rotation of a nonresonant instability by means of a set of active coils and how the new findings compare with numerical modeling.     

Dynamic model for plasma opening switches

A dynamic model for plasma opening switches is proposed. The basis of the model is the appearance and development of force instabilities (pinch and sausage) in a spatially nonuniform plasma accelerated by a magnetic field as a driver piston. The proposed model does not require the invocation of subtle effects in the pinch collapse phase and makes it possible, without going beyond the framework of magnetohydrodynamics, to explain the principal operating features of plasma opening switches and to obtain quantitative estimates consistent with experiment. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 25–29 (May 1999)     

The use of vacuum arc discharge as a load for XPG-1 high-current generator

It was attempted to use the vacuum arc discharge as a load of a high-current generator. The idea is as follows: metal vapor is injected using the vacuum arc discharge into a microgap of a load unit of the current generator. When the generator current flows over metal vapor, such a load begins to compress as in the classical Z pinch. During compression, Rayleigh—Taylor instabilities develop, which results in the formation of waists and hot spots. The hot spot radiation power can exceed the radiation power in the case of the X pinch used as a load by a factor of 1.5–2. The signal amplitude spread is significantly smaller than that when using the X pinch. The spectrum and sizes of the hot spot can be varied by selecting the mass and type of metal injected into the discharge region.     

Experimental investigations on a toroidal screw pinch

High-β Deuterium plasmas in a temperature range of 0.1–1 keV were produced in the fast toroidal screw pinch experiment ISAR IV (B _max≈33 kG,I _{z max}≈100–150 kA, coil diameter 12 cm, aspect ratio 5). The experimentally determined growth rates of the appearing instabilities—especially them=1 mode—are compared with two simple models and a more exact numerical calculation. This comparison and direct measurements of the magnetic field distribution show that the constant pitch model of Bobeldijk¹ is a suitable first approximation for the normal screw pinch. Using a delay of thez and θ-bank as a first simple method of field programming this constant pitch profil could be varied in different directions. The results are discussed in more detail and confirm the theoretical picture of stability behaviour of the high-β screw pinch.     

Quasi-single-helicity reversed-field-pinch plasmas

The reversed field pinch (RFP) is a configuration for plasma magnetic confinement. It has been traditionally viewed as dominated by a bath of MHD instabilities producing magnetic chaos and high energy transport. We report experimental results which go beyond this view. They show a decrease of magnetic chaos and the formation of a coherent helical structure in the plasma, whose imaging and temperature profile are provided for the first time. These quasi-single-helicity states are observed both transiently and in stationary conditions. The last case is consistent with a theoretically predicted bifurcation. Our results set a new frame for improving confinement in high current nonchaotic RFP's.     

Effects of Compressibility on the Rayleigh-Taylor Instability in Z-pinch Implosions

In this paper we shall consider the effect of compressibility on the RT instability in Z-pinch implosions, importance is the comparing growth rates of the RT instability for two systems of the compressible and incompressible MHD plasma. For which reason, we shall use as simple model as possible. Obviously, slab geometry is the most simple. For example, in the case of annular plasma implosion, during the linear growth phase of the RT instability there are vacuums at both sides of the annular plasma shell and its thickness is sufficiently smaller than the pinch radius, allowing us to use slab geometry instead of the annular one. For simplicity, we do not consider the effects of the finite Larmor radius and the sheared axial flow which are the important physical mechanisms to compress the RT instabilities.     

Vacuum discharge instability at laser initiation of a cathode spot

The dynamics of fast (a current rise time of ≤10¹¹ A/s) laser-induced vacuum discharges with moderate amplitudes of the current (≤10 kA) and voltage (≤20 kV), as well as medium storage energy (20 J), is studied. It is shown experimentally that the initial conditions specified by the energy and duration of laser radiation are a decisive factor governing the discharge dynamics. Two types of beam-plasma instabilities separated in space and time are discovered, and their occurrence conditions are analyzed. The first type of instability, observed early in the discharge, is associated with pinch structures at the front of the cathode jet expanding into a vacuum. The second type arises either at the peak or at the trailing edge of the current pulse and is accompanied by generation of hard (with an energy of ≥100 keV) bremsstrahlung from the anode region. The increase of the hard component energy over the current source potential is attributed to breaking due to plasma erosion.     

离化靶中多脉冲强流电子束的不稳定性

多脉冲强流电子束轰击轫致辐射靶,在靶面形成等离子体层,将对后续电子束脉冲的稳定性产生影响。从基本等离子理论出发,利用成熟的等离子体粒子模拟程序计算在不同等离子条件下电子束流的稳定性。模拟显示在无外场情况下,当等离子体与电子束的密度比小于1时,能量20 MeV、束流强度2.5 kA、焦斑1.5 mm的电子束出现腊肠不稳定性,但相对靶面焦点区而言,束流稳定;当密度比在1~100时,箍缩不稳定性能够改善电子束的聚焦;当密度比在100~1000时,扭曲不稳定性起主导作用,靶面焦点区电子束流仍然稳定;当密度比大于1000后,成丝不稳定性破坏束流,电子束无法在靶面聚焦。     

z-pinch靶的结构及材料特点

 论述了Z箍缩（Z-pinch）靶的发展与现状,阐述了Z-pinch靶及负载在结构和材料上的特点及其制备方法,比较了Z-pinch靶与激光聚变靶的区别,针对国内目前开展z-pinch实验对靶的需求,拟采用电解抛光法制备负载用超细金属丝,并提出了Z-pinch单层丝阵负载的制备流程。     

Geschwindigkeitsverteilung anisotroper Deuteriumplasmen aus zeitaufgelösten Neutronenspektren

The ion energy in hot deuterium plasmas can be determined by using the Doppler broadening of thed-d-neutron line at 2.45 MeV. A method allowing time resolved measurement of neutron spectra in pulsed discharges is described. It utilizes the known energy dependence of the total neutron cross section of light to medium weight nuclei for energy selection of the neutrons. The neutrons are detected with plastic scintillators which afford both a high detection efficiency and a time resolution in the nanosecond range. The method is applied to a theta pinch for investigating the anisotropy and relaxation of the deuteron velocity distribution. It is shown that, in particular, the ion energy parallel to the magnetic field can readily be measured even at the low neutron yield available at present. Suitable combination of this procedure with known diagnostic methods allows deviation of the velocity distribution from the isotropic Maxwell distribution to be determined with sufficient accuracy. Comparison of the experimental relaxation rate with the theoretical predicted collision relaxation shows that Coulomb collisions are not a sufficient explanation. The short wave-length mirror instabilities also observed probably make a major contribution to the relaxation of the anisotropic velocity distribution.     

Entstehung und Eigenschaften des Halo bei Pinch-Plasmen

In pinch discharges a second plasma regime called halo^1,2 outside the central plasma column^1-4 has been observed. This surrounding plasma was investigated in the experiments with the 5.4 m long compression coil in the ISARI linear theta pinch because there it appears highly pronounced. The development of the discharge was observed side-on (stereoscopic) with image converters and a streak camera. It appears possible to resolve the space-time behaviour of the plasma, especially in the dynamic phase of the discharge where the halo shows a filament like structure, by using high-speed color reversal film (streak camera). Furthermore, the smear pictures show that after 6–8 μsec the halo region is frozen into the external magnetic field, that is from this time the halo is characterized by a high electrical conductivity. The boundary layer of the halo follows a magnetic flux tube. The parameters of the halo, such as electron densityn _e (< 10¹⁵ cm^?3), atomic temperatureT _a , and ion temperatureT _i (< 15 eV), were determined spectroscopically as a function of time and location from the broadening of the deuterium Balmer lines. The absolutely measured line intensities do not allow direct calculation of the electron temperature since the excited levels of the investigated Balmer lines are mainly populated from the ground level. By numerical solution of a system of rate equations describing the change of the levels a region for the electron temperature 5<T _e <10eV can be specified. Different mechanisms, such as photoionization, ionization by electron impact in a time varying magnetic field, ionizing collisions of high velocity neutral atoms with neutral gas at rest, transport processes in the plasma across the magnetic field, instabilities which may cause the development of the halo, are discussed by means of the experimental results. It is concluded that the halo region is caused by flute instabilities.     

系统和负载参数对喷气式Z箍缩过程的影响

利用改进的零维雪铲模型计算了喷气式Z箍缩装置的系统和负载参数（系统特征电感和电阻、气柱质量和外半径等）对电流波形和箍缩动力学过程的影响。结果表明,电流波形和箍缩过程对系统特征电感和电阻的变化非常敏感;气柱质量和外半径对电流波形的影响不大,仅影响等离子体箍缩到心的时间和速度;电感和运动阻抗随箍缩过程的进行而增大;Z箍缩装置的能量转换效率是较高的。