Plasma Generation by MG Fields from 1 MA Current Through a Machined Load*
Author: Stephan Fuelling
Requested Type: Poster Only
Submitted: 2006-12-19 12:51:43
Co-authors: T.J. Awe, B.S. Bauer, T.S. Goodrich, A. Haboub, V. Makhin, R. Presura, R.E. Siemon (U. of Nevada, Reno); P.J. Turchi (LANL)
Contact Info:
University of Nevada, Reno
5625 Fox Ave.
Reno, NV 89506
USA
Abstract Text:
The behavior of current carrying conductors exposed to extremely high magnetic fields is an important topic for liner compression of magnetized plasma. In particular, the threshold for plasma formation is of interest. Intrinsic plasma formation by Ohmic heating as described in one-dimensional numerical modeling can be obscured by plasma formation induced by arcing at electrical contacts or by high electric fields. Experiments have been performed on Zebra, a 2-TW pulsed-power device with a peak current of 1 MA, using two types of aluminum loads: 1-mm-diameter wire loads and loads machined from a solid aluminum cylinder. These hourglass-shaped machined loads have large-diameter flanges at the top and bottom and a 1-mm-diameter thinned ‘wire’ section in the center. The flanges provide enlarged contact circumference thereby avoiding arcing and early plasma formation thus allowing comparison with numerical modeling. The wire section was diagnosed by a time-gated intensified CCD camera, a fast streak camera, photodiode and photomultiplier detectors. In addition, laser schlieren, interferometry and Faraday rotation diagnostics were employed. Also see papers presented by V. Makhin, R.E. Siemon at this conference for additional modeling and experimental results.
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*Work supported by DOE OFES grant DE-FG02-04ER54752 and DE-FG02-06ER54892.
Characterization: C
Comments:
