KERR CELL PHOTOGRAPHY OF A DYNAMICAL DEUTERIUM PLASMA PRODUCED IN A 30 KILOJOULE THETA PINCH.
Abstract
A 0.1 microsec Kerr cell shutter was employed in a photographic investigation of the space and time history of the luminous ring characteristic of the plasma current sheath in a high temperature, pure, dense, deuterium plasma formed in the 'theta pinch' geometry. A method is proposed for obtaining rough estimations of relative electron densities from photographically recorded light intensities. The effect that different bias field intensities have on the beginning of the initial inward sweep of the luminosity is correlated with simple theory providing an indication that the current sheath and luminous ring are coincident during the initial inward sweep. Snowplow model energy calculations performed with the slope of the initial inward sweep from position versus time plots indicate ion energies from 40 to 100 ev agreeing within 10 per cent to computer calculations based on the theoretical considerations employed by the Hain-Roberts code. The noted dependence of the initial minimum radial position on reverse bias field intensity is interpreted to support the theory that the reverse bias field is 'trapped' by the current sheath. The leading edge of the observed luminosity is essentially the position of maximum particle density during the initial inward sweep.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0622088
Entities
People
- A. A. Dougal
- H. N. Roberts
- R. F. Gribble
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin