Formation of hot spots in the plasma of a Z-pinch produced from low-density deuterated polyethylene

Journal Article · Sun Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X10080064· OSTI ID:21443469

Akunets, A A ^[1]; Anan'ev, S S; Bakshaev, Yu L; Blinov, P I; Bryzgunov, V A; Vikhrev, V V; Volobuev, I V; Dan'ko, S A; Zelenin, A A; Kazakov, E D; Korolev, V D; Meshcherov, B R; Nedoseev, S L ^[2]; Pimenov, V G ^[3]; Smirnova, E A; Ustroev, G I; Chernenko, A S; Shchagin, V A ^[2]

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1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Lebedev Physical Institute (Russian Federation)
2. Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation)
3. Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry (Russian Federation)

Results are presented from experimental studies of the plasma formation dynamics in a Z-pinch produced from a cylindrical microporous agar-agar load. The experiments were performed on the S-300 facility at a current of 2 MA and current rise time of 100 ns. To enhance the energy concentration, a deuterated polyethylene neck with a mass density of 50-75 {mu}g/cm{sup 3} and diameter of 1-2 mm was made in the central part of the load. The spatiotemporal characteristics of the Z-pinch were studied using an optical streak camera and fast frame photography in the optical and soft X-ray spectral ranges. X-ray emission was detected using semiconductor and vacuum diodes, and neutron emission was studied by means of the time-of-flight method. It is found that, in the course of continuous plasma production, hot spots with a diameter of 100 {mu}m form in the pinch plasma. The hot spots emit short soft X-ray pulses with a duration of 2-4 ns, as well as neutron pulses with an average neutron energy of about 2.45 MeV. The maximum neutron yield was found to be 4.5 x 10{sup 9} neutrons per shot. The scenario of hot spot formation is adequately described by two-dimensional MHD simulations.

• OSTI ID: 21443469
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Journal Name: Plasma Physics Reports Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 36; ISSN PPHREM; ISSN 1063-780X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AGAR
CAMERAS
CARBOHYDRATES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
FLUID MECHANICS
HOT SPOTS
HYDRODYNAMICS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LONGITUDINAL PINCH
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
NEUTRON EMISSION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYSACCHARIDES
RADIATIONS
SACCHARIDES
SIMULATION
SOFT X RADIATION
STREAK CAMERAS
TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
X RADIATION