High-density Z-pinch research

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5768096

Shlachter, J S

The linear Z pinch is a plasma configuration which in its simplest form requires no auxiliary magnetic field; an axial current carried by the plasma produces an azimuthal confining field and provides ohmic (resistive) or implosion heating. The Lawson criterion (n tau > 10/sup 20/ m/sup -3/s) and high temperatures (T > 10 keV) must be simultaneously satisfied in any reactor scheme. Early Z-pinch experiments concentrated on the sub-atmospheric fill pressure regime, with 10/sup 19/ m/sup -3/ < n < 10/sup 23/ m/sup -3/ and a corresponding confinement time constraint of 10/sup 1/ s > tau > 10/sup -4/ s. In addition, these studies involved plasmas formed at the surface of an insulating wall; the plasmas were subsequently pinched inward by the radial j x B force. Following the implosion phase, gross MHD instabilities were invariably observed on a time scale short compared to the required confinement time.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5768096
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-83-2311; CONF-8309147-1; ON: DE83017311
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700103* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Kinetics
CONFINEMENT
DOCUMENT TYPES
INSTABILITY
LINEAR PINCH DEVICES
LINEAR Z PINCH DEVICES
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PINCH DEVICES
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
REVIEWS
SPECTRA
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
X-RAY SPECTRA