Hybrid simulation of the Z-pinch instabilities for profiles generated during wire array implosion in the Saturn pulsed power generator

Journal Article · Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2033623· OSTI ID:20764543

Sotnikov, V I; Leboeuf, J N; Deeney, C; Coverdale, C A; Hellinger, P; Travnicek, P; Fiala, V ^[1]

---

1. University of Nevada at Reno, Nevada 89557 (United States)

Experimental evidence suggests that the energy balance between processes in play during wire array implosions is not well understood. In fact the radiative yields can exceed by several times the implosion kinetic energy. A possible explanation is that the coupling from magnetic energy to kinetic energy as magnetohydrodynamic plasma instabilities develop provides additional energy. It is thus important to model the instabilities produced in the after implosion stage of the wire array in order to determine how the stored magnetic energy can be connected with the radiative yields. To this aim three-dimensional hybrid simulations have been performed. They are initialized with plasma radial density profiles, deduced in recent experiments [C. Deeney et al., Phys. Plasmas 6, 3576 (1999)] that exhibited large x-ray yields, together with the corresponding magnetic field profiles. Unlike previous work, these profiles do not satisfy pressure balance and differ substantially from those of a Bennett equilibrium. They result in faster growth with an associated transfer of magnetic energy to plasma motion and hence kinetic energy.

• OSTI ID: 20764543
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 12, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2033623; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COUPLING
ENERGY BALANCE
EXPLODING WIRES
IMPLOSIONS
KINETIC ENERGY
LINEAR Z PINCH DEVICES
LONGITUDINAL PINCH
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA RADIAL PROFILES
PLASMA SIMULATION
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
X-RAY SOURCES