Observation of fast current redistribution in an imploding plasma column

2021/11/11 by C. Stollberg, E. Kroupp, Stollberg, Christine +22
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Plasma Diagnostics and Applications #Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma #Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2111.06450

Abstract

Spectroscopic measurements of the magnetic field evolution in a Z-pinch throughout stagnation and with particularly high spatial resolution reveal a sudden current redistribution from the stagnating plasma (SP) to a low density plasma (LDP) at larger radii, while the SP continues to implode. Based on the plasma parameters it is shown that the current is transferred to an increasing-conductance LDP outside the stagnation, a process likely to be induced by the increasing impedance of the SP. Since an LDP often exists around imploding plasmas and in various pulsed-power systems, such a fast current redistribution may dramatically affect the behavior and achievable parameters in these systems.

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