Dense-plasma spheromak in plasma focus experiments
- RRC Kurchatov Inst., Moscow (Russian Federation). Inst. of Nuclear Fusion
Experimental evidences are presented for the formation of a closed, spheromak-like magnetic configuration (SLMC) by the plasma-focus-self-transformed magnetic field. The SLMC formation is characterized by (1) self-consistent generation of a poloidal magnetic fields (the dynamo effect); (2) strong filamentation of electric currents; (3) stimulating role of the enhanced propagation rate of the magnetic field along the anode, due to the Hall effect; (4) a magnetic field reconnection process leading to the formation of the SLMC as a closed configuration, appears to occur before the current sheath converges on the axis; (5) in its final stage, the SLMC takes the form of a squeezed spheromak configuration compressed and forced away from the anode by the residual azimuthal magnetic field; (6) the power density in the combined Z {minus} {var_theta} pinch at major axis of the SLMC exceeds, by several orders of magnitude, the peak power density in the experiments on the force-free flux-conserver-confined spheromak; (7) the SLMC exhibits a cyclical tendency to form, be repelled from the anode, and reform repeatedly. The results suggest a possibility of further concentrating the plasma power density by means of compressing the SLMC-trapped plasma by the residual magnetic field.
- OSTI ID:
- 178237
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950612-; ISBN 0-7803-2669-5; TRN: 96:006721
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 22. international conference on plasma science, Madison, WI (United States), 5-8 Jun 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of IEEE conference record -- abstracts: 1995 IEEE international conference on plasma science; PB: 312 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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