Heating a dense theta-pinch plasma with strong fast-rising magnetic fields

• Published in: Nuclear fusion Vol. 17; no. 5; pp. 887 - 892
• Main Authors: Burtsev, V.A, Berezin, A.B, Zhukov, A.P, Kubasov, V.A, Lyublin, B.V, Litunovskij, V.N, Ovsyannikov, V.A, Popytaev, A.N, Smirnov, A.G, Smirnov, V.G, Fedyakov, V.P, Fedyakova, V.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.10.1977
• ISSN: 0029-5515; 1741-4326
• DOI: 10.1088/0029-5515/17/5/001

Experimental results are presented which were obtained in an exploding-foil device designed for investigating ultrarapid heating of a dense plasma in a linear theta pinch. The experimental device is described in detail, and it is shown that three different operating modes can be achieved: a conventional theta pinch with a sinusoidal current in the solenoid, an implosive theta pinch with a cosinusoidal current, and a staged pinch that is a combination of the first two. Preliminary experimental measurements are reported which demonstrate that plasma heating in a rapid theta pinch using magnetic fields of up to 50 kG with rise times of 0.2 microsec can yield a dense, fairly hot, and stable plasma column during the first current pulse in the solenoid at a low value of the radial plasma-compression coefficient.