High-current pinches in xenon. I. THETA pinch

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.), v. 20, no. 8, pp. 1105- 1109

OSTI ID:4048040

Andreev, S I; Baikov, O G; Dashuk, P N; Popov, P G

In a study of xenon pinches at initial pressures from 1 to 100 torr, energies up to 10 kJ, and discharge voltage up to 50 kV in cylindrical quartz chambers up to 10 cm in diameter it has been found that the initial plasma contraction velocity is proportional to the discharge voltage and inversely proportional to the square root of the gas density. Under conditions such that the shock-wave velocity reaches 6--10 km/sec, there is a discharge regime with a highly emitting, current carrying shock wave. Analysis of the energy balance of the discharge shows that the radiative energy loss rapidly increases in importance as the shock-wave velocity and the gas density increase. At an initial xenon pressure of a few torr, plasma temperatures up to 60 000 degreeK and a brightness temperature in the visible region of the order of 20 000 degreeK have been observed. The ignition voltage can be determined sufficiently accurately from the experimental curves in the literature obtained in rf breakdown. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-33-028664
• OSTI ID: 4048040
• Journal Information: Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.), v. 20, no. 8, pp. 1105- 1109, Journal Name: Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.), v. 20, no. 8, pp. 1105- 1109; ISSN SPTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*THETA PINCH-- SHOCK WAVES
700101* --Fusion Energy--Plasma Research--Plasma Confinement & Heating
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
N70100* --Physics--Controlled Thermonuclear Research-- Confinement & Heating
OPTICALLY THIN PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
XENON