2001/10/29 by U. Shumlak, R.P. Golingo, B. A. Nelson +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · Engineering · #Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics #Plasma Diagnostics and Applications #Magnetic confinement fusion research
paper · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.87.205005
openalex publication_date 2001/10/29 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Theoretical studies have predicted that the Z-pinch can be stabilized with a sufficiently sheared axial flow [U. Shumlak and C. W. Hartman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 3285 (1995)]. A Z-pinch experiment is designed to generate a plasma which contains a large axial flow. Magnetic fluctuations and velocity profiles in the plasma pinch are measured. Experimental results show a stable period which is over 700 times the expected instability growth time in a static Z-pinch. The experimentally measured axial velocity shear is greater than the theoretical threshold during the stable period and approximately zero afterwards when the magnetic mode fluctuations are high.