High density Z pinch as a small low-energy fusion device

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6800568

Hammel, J E; Scudder, D W; Shlachter, J S

The Los Alamos HDZP experiment is investigating a Z pinch in the density range 0.5 x 10/sup 20/ to 10/sup 21/ cm/sup 3/. In the present experiments the pinch is created in 1 to 4 atmospheres of hydrogen on the axis of a cylindrical chamber through the combination of laser beam preionization and high electric-field breakdown between electrodes separated by 5 cm. The low-divergence laser beam focused by a 2 meter focal length lens enters the chamber through a .64 cm hole in the ground electrode and is dumped in a cavity in the high-voltage electrode. The pinch electrodes are driven by a 1.6 ohm, 600 kV water-transmission line switched to the load through a multipoint water breakdown switch. The line is charged by a 12 kJ, 600 kV Marx generator. The 30 ns neodymium laser pulse is fired 50 to 100 ns prior to the arrival of the high-voltage pulse. The 500 kV pulse gives an initial current-rise-rate of 4 x 10/sup 12/ A/s and a peak current of 300 kA in 200 ns.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6800568
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-84-1075; CONF-8403100-3; ON: DE84009992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700200* -- Fusion Energy-- Fusion Power Plant Technology
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN
LASER RADIATION
LINEAR PINCH DEVICES
LINEAR Z PINCH DEVICES
NONMETALS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PINCH DEVICES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
RADIATIONS
SIZE
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES