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Title: Initial experiments using radial foils on the Cornell Beam Research Accelerator pulsed power generator

Abstract

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 propertiesmore » of such configurations.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Laboratory of Plasma Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21344666
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 17; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3292653; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; 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

Citation Formats

Gourdain, P -A, Blesener, I C, Greenly, J B, Hammer, D A, Knapp, P F, Kusse, B R, and Schrafel, P C. Initial experiments using radial foils on the Cornell Beam Research Accelerator pulsed power generator. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1063/1.3292653.
Gourdain, P -A, Blesener, I C, Greenly, J B, Hammer, D A, Knapp, P F, Kusse, B R, & Schrafel, P C. Initial experiments using radial foils on the Cornell Beam Research Accelerator pulsed power generator. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3292653
Gourdain, P -A, Blesener, I C, Greenly, J B, Hammer, D A, Knapp, P F, Kusse, B R, and Schrafel, P C. 2010. "Initial experiments using radial foils on the Cornell Beam Research Accelerator pulsed power generator". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3292653.
@article{osti_21344666,
title = {Initial experiments using radial foils on the Cornell Beam Research Accelerator pulsed power generator},
author = {Gourdain, P -A and Blesener, I C and Greenly, J B and Hammer, D A and Knapp, P F and Kusse, B R and Schrafel, P C},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1063/1.3292653},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21344666}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 1,
volume = 17,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}