SOME THETA PINCH EXPERIMENTS

Technical Report · Fri Aug 18 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4828020

Dazey, M H; Leonard, S L

The theta pinch was studied in an apparatus which generates a 10,000- gauss magnetic field parallel to the axis of a cylindrical pinch tube. The field rises to full value in about 1.5 micro seconds and remains virtually constant for 7 micro seconds. The compression of a strongly pre-ionized deuterium plasma by the applied field and the subsequent radial oscillations of the plasma column were observed by means of magnetic probes, streak photography, and Kerr cell photography. Outward radial streaming of the plasma was observed in a configuration suggesting the flute instability. Axial streaming of the plasma out the ends of the drive strap was also detected. The radial oscillation frequency and the time of arrival of the incoming plasma surface at a prescribed radius were compared with predicted values based on phenomenological theories. (auth)

• Research Organization: Aerospace Corp. Physical Research Lab., El Segundo, Calif.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-021658
• OSTI ID: 4828020
• Report Number(s): AD-265829; TDR-594(1208-01)TR-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BEAMS
CONFIGURATION
CYLINDERS
DENSITY
DEUTERIUM
FLUTE INSTABILITY
FREQUENCY
GAS FLOW
GASES
IONIZATION
KERR CELLS
KERR EFFECT
LIGHT
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
MODULATION
OSCILLATIONS
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHYSICS
PINCH
PLASMA
PRESSURE
PROBES
SCHLIEREN
STABILITY
SURFACES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
THETA PINCH
TUBES
VARIATIONS