Generation of shear flow in conical wire arrays with a center wire.

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Astrophysics and Space Science

OSTI ID:1028892

Wanex, L ^[1]; Neff, S ^[1]; Plechaty, C ^[1]; Ampleford, David J; Wright, S ^[1]; Martinez, D ^[1]; Presura, R ^[1]

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1. University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV

At the Nevada Terawatt Facility we investigated the generation of a sheared plasma flow using conical wire arrays with an additional wire located on the axis of the pinch. The additional center wire generates axial current carrying plasma that serves as a target for the plasma accelerated from the outer wires, generating a sheared plasma flow which leads to the growth of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. These experiments were conducted on Zebra, a 2 TW pulse power device capable of delivering a 1 MA current in 100 ns. This paper will focus on the implosion dynamics that lead to shear flow and the development of the Kelvin Helmholtz instability.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1028892
• Report Number(s): SAND2008-6620J
• Journal Information: Astrophysics and Space Science, Journal Name: Astrophysics and Space Science Journal Issue: 1-4 Vol. 322; ISSN APSSBE; ISSN 0004-640X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
A CENTERS
HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY
IMPLOSIONS
PLASMA
SHEAR
TARGETS