Structural Evolution and Formation of High-Pressure Plasmas in X Pinches

J. P. Chittenden, A. Ciardi, C. A. Jennings, S. V. Lebedev, D. A Hammer, S. A. Pikuz, and T. A. Shelkovenko
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 025003 – Published 9 January 2007

Abstract

Two- and three-dimensional MHD simulations are used to provide a theoretical description of 2 wire molybdenum X-pinch experiments. The initial evolution from solid wires to the formation of supersonic jets and a central micro-Z pinch is found to result from the slow rate of wire ablation and from the distribution of the Lorentz force. The growth of m=0 instabilities triggers the formation of micron sized regions of intense x-ray emission with plasma pressures in the Gbar range. A simple analytical model is used to predict how the maximum density and temperature scale with material and current.

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  • Received 19 July 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.025003

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. P. Chittenden1, A. Ciardi2, C. A. Jennings3, S. V. Lebedev1, D. A Hammer4, S. A. Pikuz4, and T. A. Shelkovenko4

  • 1Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
  • 2Observatoire de Paris, (LUTH), 92195 Meudon, France
  • 3Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
  • 4Laboratory of Plasma Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA

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Issue

Vol. 98, Iss. 2 — 12 January 2007

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