Observations of Modified Three-Dimensional Instability Structure for Imploding $z$ -Pinch Liners that are Premagnetized with an Axial Field

Journal Article · Mon Dec 02 23:00:00 EST 2013 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.235005· OSTI ID:1106566

Awe, T. J.; McBride, R. D.; Jennings, C. A.; Lamppa, D. C.; Martin, M. R.; Rovang, D. C.; Slutz, S. A.; Cuneo, M. E.; Owen, A. C.; Sinars, D. B.; Tomlinson, K.; Gomez, M. R.; Hansen, S. B.; Herrmann, M. C.; McKenney, J. L.; Nakhleh, C.; Robertson, G. K.; Rochau, G. A.; Savage, M. E.; Schroen, D. G. ; Stygar, W. A.

Novel experimental data are reported that reveal helical instability formation on imploding z -pinch liners that are premagnetized with an axial field. Such instabilities differ dramatically from the mostly azimuthally symmetric instabilities that form on unmagnetized liners. The helical structure persists at nearly constant pitch as the liner implodes. This is surprising since, at the liner surface, the azimuthal drive field presumably dwarfs the axial field for all but the earliest stages of the experiment. These fundamentally 3D results provide a unique and challenging test for 3D-magnetohydrodynamics simulations.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1106566
• Report Number(s): SAND2013--6588J; 465009
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 111; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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