Determination of plasma pinch time and effective current radius of double planar wire array implosions from current measurements on a 1-MA linear transformer driver
Abstract
Implosions of planar wire arrays were performed on the Michigan Accelerator for Inductive Z-pinch Experiments, a linear transformer driver (LTD) at the University of Michigan. These experiments were characterized by lower than expected peak currents and significantly longer risetimes compared to studies performed on higher impedance machines. A circuit analysis showed that the load inductance has a significant impact on the current output due to the comparatively low impedance of the driver; the long risetimes were also attributed to high variability in LTD switch closing times. A circuit model accounting for these effects was employed to measure changes in load inductance as a function of time to determine plasma pinch timing and calculate a minimum effective current-carrying radius. These calculations showed good agreement with available shadowgraphy and x-ray diode measurements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.4965241
Entities
People
- Adam Steiner
- Alla S. Safronova
- David A. Yager-elorriaga
- Ishor Shrestha
- Maximillian T. Schmidt-petersen
- Nicholas Jordan
- Ronald Gilgenbach
- Sonal G. Patel
- V. L. Kantsyrev
- V. V. Shlyaptseva
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- National Science Foundation
- United States Department of Energy
- University of Michigan
- University of Nevada, Reno