Electrode-Expansion MHD in a Plasma-Filled Rod Pinch

Abstract

The Gamble II plasma-filled rod pinch (PFRP) produces an order-of-magnitude higher x-ray dose and smaller FWHM source size than achieved with a vacuum rod pinch. Intense electron deposition at the tip produces a high-energy-density expanding-tungsten plasma, the bremsstrahlung from which creates a low-intensity halo around the source core that increases the effective source size for some applications. The plasma motion has been measured with a holographic interferometer. Using the distribution of electron deposition derived from line-spread measurements, the observations are compared with zero-and one-dimensional self-similar MHD modeling of the plasma motion. Results demonstrate that magnetic-field and ohmic-heating effects during electron deposition are important to understanding PFRP dynamics.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA636709

Entities

People

  • Bruce V. Weber
  • D. Ponce
  • Deane F. Mosher
  • Joseph W. Schumer

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bremsstrahlung
  • Current Density
  • Dynamics
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • High Energy
  • Intensity
  • Interferometers
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Physics
  • Pulsed Power
  • Radiation
  • Tungsten
  • Two Dimensional
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics