Stability enhancement of a low initial density hollow gas-puff z pinch by e/sup -/ beam preionization

Journal Article · Sun Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.338109· OSTI ID:7067457

Ruden, E; Rahman, H U; Fisher, A; Rostoker, N

e/sup -/ beam preionization of the initial gas column of the hollow gas-puff z pinch at the University of California, Irvine is shown to decrease the amplitude of Rayleigh--Taylor instabilities which disrupt the imploding plasma shell of low initial density (<1 x 10/sup 17/ cm/sup -3/) helium pinches. A 5-ns pulsed nitrogen laser Mach--Zehnder interferometer compares the plasma density profile at various times during the implosion for preionized and unpreionized pinches. Also, a B-dot current probe compares the plasma induction fluctuations of the pinched state. Numerical calculations of the effects of the Rayleigh--Taylor growth for our geometry are discussed.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, University of California, Irvine, California 92717
• OSTI ID: 7067457
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 61:4; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
AMPLITUDES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GAS LASERS
GASES
HELIUM
IMPLOSIONS
INSTABILITY
INTERFEROMETERS
IONIZATION
LASERS
LINEAR PINCH DEVICES
LINEAR Z PINCH DEVICES
MACH-ZEHNDER INTERFEROMETER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PINCH DEVICES
RARE GASES
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
STABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES