INVESTIGATION OF A THREE DIMENSIONAL PLASMA PINCH DEVICE (MARK II).
Abstract
A device (Mark 2) designed to study a proposed mechanism of tri-dimensional compression in symmetric pinch discharges has been investigated. The design of the electrodes was such that the electrode spacing on the axis was much smaller than the spacing along the insulator where the discharge initiates. Results of extensive observations reveal that the plasma was compressed two-dimensionally, that much of the plasma piled up on the electrodes, and that at at the time of current maximum a plasma column of 25 mm diameter was formed instead of the expected plasma focus. Analysis of diagnostic measurements and observations show that the plasma column has a density of about 5 x 10 to the 18th power/cu. cm. and a temperature of less than 65 eV. It is concluded that the symmetric-geometry version of the three-dimensional pinch concept, as typified by the Mark 2 apparatus9, does not significantly increase the neutron yields of conventional linear pinch discharges. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0815868
Entities
People
- Gerald G. Comisar
- Melvin J. Bernstein
- Ronald C. Phillips
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation