High-Power CO2 Laser System with Repetition Rate Operation for High Current Multicharged Heavy Ion Generations

Experimental and numerical calculation results devoted to development of an optical system for an ion source based on a repetition rate CO₂ laser are described. The laser chain consists of a master oscillator, gas absorber cells, and a four-pass amplifier. The optical system provides smooth laser pulses with variable duration and high spatial quality that ensures efficiency for plasma heating and ion generation. The parameters of the plasma ion component measured in the CERN laboratory are applied for a lead target illumination.     

Simulation of mass transfer in systems with isotropic pair correlation of particles

Results of a numerical analysis of mass transfer in systems of macroscopic particles with various isotropic interaction potentials are presented. Parameters that determine transport properties of nonideal dissipative systems are obtained for a broad class of model potentials. An approximate expression for the diffusivity of interacting particles is proposed. The relationship between diffusivity and viscosity is analyzed for strongly nonideal systems.     

Characteristics of high-power radiating imploding discharge with cold start

A qualitative model of the dynamics of a multiterawatt radiating Z-pinch with cold start and high rate of current rise is proposed. The model is used to analyze discharges with currents I ～ 2–5 MA (with dI/dt > 10¹³ A/s) through uniform or structured plasma-producing loads, including wire arrays. The most important consequence of cold start is that spatially nonuniform plasma production is prolonged to almost the entire current rise time. Under these conditions, the Ampére force begins to play a dominant role in the plasma dynamics before the plasma-producing load is completely transformed into an accelerated plasma. The results of computations of wire-array vaporization are presented. A formula is proposed for estimating the highest attainable velocity of plasma flow into a heterogeneous liner driven by the Ampére force. It is shown that local imbalance between radial motion of the produced plasma and supply of the plasma-producing substance to be ionized leads to axially nonuniform breakthrough of magnetic flux into the liner, which precedes plasma collapse. The magnetic-flux breakthrough gives rise to a chaotic azimuthal-axial plasma structure consisting of radial plasma jets of relatively small diameter, which is called a radial plasma rainstorm. The breaking-through azimuthal magnetic flux obstructs further current flow in the breakthrough region. Analyses of Z-pinch implosion based on the theory of Rayleigh-Taylor instability or the snowplow model are incorrect under the plasma-rainstorm conditions. The processes taking place in a stagnant Z-pinch include conversion of the energy carried by the current-generated magnetic field into turbulent MHD flow of the ion component of the plasma, its convective mixing with magnetic field, heating, energy transfer from ions to electrons, and emission from the plasma. Under typical experimental conditions, emission plays a key role in the energy balance in an imploding pinch. Z-pinch is modeled by an electric-circuit component that has a time-dependent nonlinear impedance and consumes the magnetic energy supplied by a generator through a magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL). The peak power reached in the circuit is comparable to the peak soft X-ray power output emitted by the pinch in terms of magnitude and timing. Optimum matching conditions are formulated for the generator-MITL-pinch circuit.