Sodium Fluoride Discharge for Fast Z-Pinch Experiments
Abstract
A capillary-discharge plasma source has been developed to produce a sodium-bearing plasma for fast Z-pinch implosion experiments. Peak currents of 40 to 50 kA from a 0.5-kJ capacitor bank were driven through a 0.5-mm diameter, few-cm-long capillary drilled in packed sodium fluoride powder to form the source. A nozzle was used to collimate plasma ejected from one end of the capillary to produce a 1 to 2-cm diameter, several-cm-long cylindrical plasma. Ions with velocities of 2.2 to 3.4 cm/microseconds were measured with biased charge collectors located at least 5 cm from the nozzle. Measurements of visible light from neutrals near the nozzle exit gave velocities of 1.5 to 1.7 cm/ microseconds. Indications of axial and radial nonuniformities of the plasma were observed in framing photographs of visible-light emission and in spatially- resolved spectral measurements. Capillary discharge, Z-pinch, Sodium fluoride plasma, Plasma source, X-ray laser.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 22, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA204090
Entities
People
- B. L. Welch
- David D. Hinshelwood
- Deane F. Mosher
- Frank C. Young
- Robert J. Commisso
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory