STABILIZATION OF PINCH DISCHARGES

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1960 · Physics of Fluids (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1706167· OSTI ID:4088829

Colgate, S A; Furth, H P

The hydromagnetic stability properties of "hard-core" pinches are shown to be more favorable than those of conventional "stabilized pinches." Linear "hard-core" pinch experiments with a wide range of configurations show a basic consistency with hydromagnetic theory, but all configurations studied so far become unstable at sufficiently high current densities and low panticle densities, even if pessessed of theoretical hydromagnetic stability. Pinches with nulls in B/sub TT/ tend to be much less stable than those with nulls in B/ sub z/. "Inverse stabilized pinches" yield perfectly reproducible magnetic probe traces at power levels several times those at which "stabilized pinches" are unstable. A technique for the study of plasma density distributions is given, based on the propagation of radial compressional waves. The theory of the steady- state pinch is enlarged to include convective effects and is documented by experiment. The role of electrodes is considered, and an anodecathode asymmetry in instability behavior is demonstrated for the linear "stabilized pinch." The prospects of stable, high-temperature operation with the toroidal hard-core pinch, or "levitron," are discussed. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Livermore
• NSA Number: NSA-15-005747
• OSTI ID: 4088829
• Report Number(s): UCRL-5862; 0031-9171
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids (U.S.), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 3; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DENSITY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PARTICLES
PHYSICS
PINCH
PLASMA
STABILITY
TEMPERATURE
TORUS