Dynamics of the structure of the plasma current sheath in a plasma focus discharge

Journal Article · Thu Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X11080058· OSTI ID:22047507

Krauz, V I ^[1]; Mitrofanov, K N ^[2]; Myalton, V V; Vinogradov, V P; Vinogradova, Yu V ^[1]; Grabovski, E V ^[2]; Koidan, V S ^[1]

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1. National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation)
2. Troitsk Institute for Innovation and Fusion Research (Russian Federation)

The study is aimed at investigating the fine structure of the plasma current sheath (PCS) in the PF-3 plasma focus facility. The PCS dynamics in a deuterium discharge was studied. The PCS parameters were measured using absolutely calibrated magnetic probes installed at different positions with respect to the facility axis and the anode surface. A magneto-optical probe recording both the magnetic signal and the PCS optical luminosity was first applied to analyze the PCS structure. This made it possible to spatially resolve the current and shock-wave regions. It is demonstrated that the current distribution is different in different discharge stages. It is shown that the neutron yield is determined by the value of the current compressed toward the axis, rather then the amplitude of the total discharge current.

• OSTI ID: 22047507
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Journal Name: Plasma Physics Reports Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 37; ISSN PPHREM; ISSN 1063-780X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ANODES
DEUTERIUM
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
FINE STRUCTURE
LUMINOSITY
MAGNETIC PROBES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTION YIELD
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA FOCUS
PLASMA FOCUS DEVICES
PLASMA SHEATH
SHOCK WAVES