SOME NEW DATA ON SELF-COMPRESSED DISCHARGES

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Nucl. Fusion, Suppl.

OSTI ID:4718066

Kvartskhava, I F; Kervalidze, K N; Gvaladze, Yu C; Kapanadze, B N

The theory of self-constricted discharges, which predicts the possibiiity of the appearance of various types of instabilities, does not reflect fully the multiple phenoniena which are experimentally observed. The models used in the theory evidentiy do not consider the presence of some processes in self- constricted discharges which materially determine the real behavior of the plasma. The experiments showed a number of such processes. Basically, they consist of an unequal heating of the discharge near the walls of the chamber. Thereby the discharge currents fiow along distorted threadlike channels which, in theta - pinches mostly follow either the z-direction or the theta -direction, and in z- pinches they basically follow the theta -direction. In the process of plasma compression the above mentioned thread formations experience unequal accelerations. Having a high conductivity, these formations facilitate the capture of magnetic fieids which obstructs the thermaiization of the kinetic energy of the plasma's radial motion. As a result of this process the plasma is far from thermial equilibrium when in the stage of maximum compression. It is encompassed by a motion of turbulent character. After the maximum compression of the plasma, various kinds of plasma formation are ejected from the surface of the pinch. The magnetic field is more effectively trapped than in zpinches. Consequently, a greater variety of types of instability is observed in theta - pinches than in z-pinches. Highspeed photography of the discharge turned out to be the most practical and fruitful method of studying the processes of formation and the subsequent motion of the plasma. Photographs of the discharges obtained by streak photography and by framing camera are discussed. The results of probe measurements of magnetic and electric fields as well as the results of measurements of currents by means of Rogovsky belts are given. (auth)

• Research Organization: Inst. of Physics and Tech., Academy of Sciences, Georgian SSR
• NSA Number: NSA-17-009733
• OSTI ID: 4718066
• Journal Information: Nucl. Fusion, Suppl., Journal Name: Nucl. Fusion, Suppl.
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: Russian

Related Subjects

CAMERAS
CONFIGURATION
CONFINEMENT
CURRENTS
DENSITY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EMISSION
ENERGY
GASES
HEATING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
MECHANICS
MOTION
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHYSICS
PINCH
PLASMA
PRESSURE
SCHLIEREN
STABILITY
SURFACES
TESTING
THERMODYNAMICS
TURBULENCE
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY
VESSELS