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

Journal Article · Tue Dec 03 00:00:00 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 Lab. (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; PRLTAO; 465009
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 111, Issue 23; Related Information: Proposed for publication in Physical Review Letters.; ISSN 0031-9007
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS