Magnetohydrodynamic solution for a Z pinch showing the production of a hot spot

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871691· OSTI ID:280164

Maxon, S; Hammer, J H; Eddleman, J L; Tabak, M; Zimmerman, G B; Alley, W E; Estabrook, K G; Harte, J A ^[1]; Nash, T J; Sanford, T W ^[2]; De Groot, J S ^[3]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
2. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
3. University of California, Davis, California 95616 (United States)

Two-dimensional LASNEX [National Technical Information Service Document No. DE 81026329 (Zimmerman, Report No. UCRL-74811, 1973)] calculations are made for a Z pinch on Saturn, the low-impedance, low-inductance electron accelerator at the Sandia National Laboratories [D. D. Bloomquist {ital et} {ital al}. {ital Proceedings} {ital of} {ital the} {ital Sixth} {ital IEEE} {ital Pulsed} {ital Power} {ital Conference}, Arlington, VA, edited by P. J. Turchi and B. H. Bernstein (Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers, New York, 1987), p. 310]. The experiment is characterized by a current of 6 MA with a tungsten wire load (4 mg) at 2 mm. Two-dimensional calculations show the evolution of the Rayleigh{endash}Taylor instability to the bubble and spike phase, causing high-density islands to form in the pinch opposite the bubbles. The two-dimensional energy flow causes a {open_quote}{open_quote}hot spot{close_quote}{close_quote} to evolve, which is shown to agree in its size and brightness with pinhole camera measurements. This is the first explicit calculation of a hot spot in two dimensions employing the full magnetohydrodynamic equations. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 280164
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 3; ISSN 1070-664X; ISSN PHPAEN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BUBBLES
HOT SPOTS
LINEAR Z PINCH DEVICES
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PINCH EFFECT
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
SAUSAGE INSTABILITY
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS