Computational Interpretation of Megagauss-Magnetic-Field-Induced Metallic Surface Plasma Initiation and Evolution

Journal Article · Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.105.195004· OSTI ID:21541681

Lindemuth, Irvin R; Siemon, Richard E; Bauer, Bruno S; Angelova, Milena A; Atchison, Walter L ^[1]

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

Numerical simulations of experiments in which plasma is formed on an aluminum surface by megagauss magnetic fields provide the first computational demonstration of a magnetic-field threshold that must be reached for aluminum plasma to begin to form. The computed times of plasma initiation agree reasonably well with the observations across the full range of rod diameters, leading to the conclusion that plasma formation is a thermal process. Computationally, plasma forms first in low-density material that is resistive enough to expand across the magnetic field and yet conductive enough that Ohmic heating exceeds expansion cooling.

• OSTI ID: 21541681
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 19; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.195004; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COOLING
DENSITY
EVOLUTION
HEATING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
RODS
SURFACES
ELEMENTS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SIMULATION