EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE DYNAMICS OF A LARGE INVERSE PINCH.
Abstract
This paper reports an experimental study of the dynamics, stability, and long-time behaviors of an unrestrained current sheet. The device selected for this study is an inverse pinch discharge of large dimension. The pressure of the test gas is varied from 100 to 1000 microns Hg. As a basis for comparison, the dynamics of the current sheet have been calculated on a digital computer. Measurements of the position of the luminous front with a streak camera indicate only fair agreement. Velocities of the order of 1 to 5 cm/microsec are recorded. Other diagnostics performed to date indicate that the current sheet is stable for monatomic gases but unstable for diatomic gases. In the stable mode, the current sheet remains stable for long times and displacement, although it becomes very thick and diffused. No shock detachment from the electromagnetic piston is observed. The conductivity in the current sheet is not high enough to prevent leakage of the driving magnetic field that results in poor energy transfer. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0803380
Entities
People
- Marc A. Kolpin
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation