Direct measurements of anode/cathode gap plasma in cylindrically imploding loads on the Z machine | Zendy

Andrew Porwitzky | Zendy; D. H. Dolan | Zendy; Matthew Martin | Zendy; George Laity | Zendy; R. W. Lemke | Zendy; Thomas R. Mattsson | Zendy

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Direct measurements of anode/cathode gap plasma in cylindrically imploding loads on the Z machine

Author(s) -

Andrew Porwitzky,

D. H. Dolan,

Matthew Martin,

George Laity,

R. W. Lemke,

Thomas R. Mattsson

Publication year - 2018

Publication title -

physics of plasmas

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75

H-Index - 160

eISSN - 1089-7674

pISSN - 1070-664X

DOI - 10.1063/1.5026225

Subject(s) - physics , plasma , anode , cathode , magnetohydrodynamics , pulsed power , z pinch , resistive touchscreen , plasma diagnostics , computational physics , mechanics , atomic physics , power (physics) , nuclear physics , electrical engineering , electrode , quantum mechanics , engineering

By deploying a photon Doppler velocimetry based plasma diagnostic, we have directly observed low density plasma in the load anode/cathode gap of cylindrically converging pulsed power targets. The arrival of this plasma is temporally correlated with gross current loss and subtle power flow differences between the anode and the cathode. The density is in the range where Hall terms in the electromagnetic equations are relevant, but this physics is lacking in the magnetohydrodynamics codes commonly used to design, analyze, and optimize pulsed power experiments. The present work presents evidence of the importance of physics beyond traditional resistive magnetohydrodynamics for the design of pulsed power targets and drivers.

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