Rotational Instability in the Theta Pinch

Abstract

An experimental study of the rotation and associated instability was made in a theta pinch with a peak field of 85 kG reached in 2.3 μsec. The starting deuterium gas pressure was in the range 50–150 μ Hg, and for operation on the second half-cycle of the sinusoidal driving field the magnetic flux trapped within the plasma varied between ±100 kMx. In most conditions the circular cross section of the plasma became perturbed along its length by the growth of two flutes which rotated at an angular velocity of up to 6 × 107 rad/sec. It is deduced from measurements on the rotation that the plasma acquires its angular momentum at the start of the half-cycle, and the results are interpreted on the basis that the angular momentum is initially in a diamagnetic (azimuthal) ion current. A model is described for establishing this current as a consequence of contact between the plasma and the walls. Results on the time of onset of the instability, and on the growth rate of the flutes, point to the existence of some damping or stabilizing process; it is found that field diffusion, or a rapid axial contraction of the plasma (due to closed reversed field loops), can lead to instability, and when these are reduced the stable time is increased. The possible influence of finite Larmor radius stabilization is discussed. The stability condition, originally derived for low β but recently shown to have more general validity, is in qualitative agreement with the results.

Current Sheet Structure in an Inductive-Impulsive Plasma Accelerator

“…3 It is argued that a radial component of current can occur as a result of electrons drifting to the wall along magnetic field lines and that this torque acts during the radial acceleration period. 4 We have looked for current and magnetic field components that would accompany such a torque mechanism in our flat spiral coil accelerator and have concluded that, for that geometry, such a mechanism is not present. 5 Experiments were carried out in a 0-pinch for the specific purpose of investigating current partition.…”

Instability of a hot-cathode discharge in a magnetic field at low pressures

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Concept of a stochastically infinite length of a waveguide of limited extent (methodological comments)

“…The observations reported here were made during the phase following the radial implosion and before the end of the axial contraction. The rotational instability [3], which appears after the axial contraction, will not be considered.…”