Axial laser heating of three meter theta pinch plasma

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5575272

Hoffman, A L; Lowenthal, D D

The results of a four-year effort on laser heating a 3-m long plasma in a fast rising solenoidal field are presented. It was found that beam trapping density minimums could be maintained for the length of the laser pulse if the plasma diameter exceeded about 1.5 cm. The erosion of the density minimum was governed by classical diffusion processes. Three-meter long plasmas in 2.6 cm bore plasma tubes could be fairly uniformly heated by 3.0 kJ of CO/sub 2/ laser radiation. Best results were obtained when heating began before or during the theta pinch implosion phase and the plasma fill pressure exceeded 1.0 torr H/sub 2/. Plasma line energies of about 1 kJ/m could be obtained in a magnetic field rising to 6 tesla in 4.7 ..mu..sec.

• Research Organization: Mathematical Sciences Northwest, Inc., Bellevue, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-2319
• OSTI ID: 5575272
• Report Number(s): MSNW-79-1045-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
GAS LASERS
HEATING
LASER-RADIATION HEATING
LASERS
LINEAR PINCH DEVICES
LINEAR THETA PINCH DEVICES
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PINCH DEVICES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA HEATING
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES