Initial experiments using radial foils on the Cornell Beam Research Accelerator pulsed power generator
- Laboratory of Plasma Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (United States)
A novel technique involving radial foil explosions can produce high energy density plasmas. A current flows radially inward in a 5 mum thin aluminum foil from a circular anode, which contacts the foil on its outer rim, to the cathode, which connects to the foil at its geometrical center. When using small 'pin' cathodes (approx1 mm in diameter) on a medium size pulsed-current generator such as the Cornell Beam Research Accelerator, the central magnetic field approaches 400 T, yielding magnetic pressures larger than 0.5 Mbar. While the dynamics is similar to radial wire arrays, radial foil discharges have very distinct characteristics. First a plasma jet forms, with densities near 5x10{sup 18} cm{sup -3}. JxB forces lift the foil upward with velocities of approx200 km/s. A plasma bubble with electron densities superior to 5x10{sup 19} cm{sup -3} then develops, surrounding a central plasma column, carrying most of the cathode current. X-ray bursts coming from the center of this column were recorded at 1 keV photon energy. As the magnetic bubble explodes, ballistic plasma projectiles form and escape with velocities exceeding 300 km/s. Laser shadowgraphy and interferometry, gated extreme ultraviolet imaging and miniature Bdot probes are used to investigate the magnetohydrodynamics properties of such configurations.
- OSTI ID:
- 21344666
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3292653; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACCELERATORS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ENERGY DENSITY
EXPLOSIONS
EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
FOILS
INTERFEROMETRY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA JETS
X RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MECHANICS
RADIATIONS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION