The Effect of a Surrounding Gas on MHD Instabilities in a Z-Pinch,

Abstract

The effect of an ionized or unionized background on MHD instabilities in a Z-pinch is considered. It is shown that the growth rate may be reduced by at least one or two orders of magnitude even though the background pressure is very small compared to the pinch pressure. The stabilizing effect of launching shocks in the background gas is considered qualitatively. It is shown that it is possible to construct equilibria such that the Lawson condition can be satisfied. Also, it is shown that lighting discharges are stabilized by the presence of the background atmosphere. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0748985

Entities

People

  • Jay Boris
  • Mártin Lampe
  • Wallace M. Manheimer

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheres
  • Instability
  • Launching
  • Z-Pinches

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Plasma Physics.