Mechanisms for the formation and transport of ion fluxes in the plasma of a high-current vacuum spark

The processes of ion flux formation in the plasma of a high-current vacuum spark were investigated experimentally. It is shown that multicharged ions are generated in the neck formed in the erosion products of the inner electrode. The plasma escaping from the neck region plays a role of a piston dragging particles of the cold peripheral plasma into ambient space. As the discharge current increases, the flux of the evaporated electrode material grows, the degree of ionization of the plasma produced decreases, and the efficiency of plasma heating caused by the pinching effect is reduced.     

Experimental observation of runaway electrons near the axis of a Z-pinch in a high-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis> medium

Generation of runaway electrons in the axial region of a Z-pinch (high-current vacuum spark) operating in a high-Z medium was observed experimentally using pulsed optical shadowgraphy and X-ray pinhole imaging.     

Polarization properties of bremsstrahlung continuum and line emission of multicharged ions in a micropinch

The polarization properties of X-ray emission from micropinch discharge plasma in the spectral range corresponding to the K-lines of iron were studied experimentally. It is shown that emissions of different nature differ in the preferred orientation of polarization. The mechanisms responsible for the emission polarization are discussed.     

On the Feasibility of a Coulomb Explosion in a Micropinch

Plasma Physics Reports - In this paper we present experimental data on the generation of ions with MeV-energy in a Z-pinch discharge in a heavy-element medium. The calculations show that the escape...     

Measurements of the X-Ray Line Spectrum of a Micropinch Source by a High-Sensitive Track Detector

Plasma Physics Reports - The efficiency of the diffusion chamber as a tool for diagnostics of pulsed high-temperature plasma in a single discharge is demonstrated. Creation of a diffusion chamber...     

Formation of an anisotropic electron velocity distribution function and production of multicharged ions in the micropinch discharge plasma

Analysis of the results of polarimetric measurements of X-ray line radiation of multicharged ions in a Z-pinch discharge indicates that the formation of an anisotropic electron velocity distribution in the neck of the current channel and the generation of highly charged ions are separated in time. The generation of a fast electron beam in the longitudinal ohmic electric field in the stage of plasma compression in the neck results in the polarization of X-ray bremsstrahlung continuum. In the stage of expansion of the hot dense micropinch plasma, the radial electric field prevails, due to which X-ray line radiation of multicharged ions becomes linearly polarized.     

Comparative study of the spatial structure of the X-ray and ion emission sources in the micropinch discharge plasma

Images of ion emission sources in the micropinch discharge plasma are obtained by the pinhole camera technique. A region that is the source of the most intense ion emission has a length of about 3 mm along the discharge axis and a width of ≤1 mm. It seems that the image of the emitting region recorded in the axial direction reflects the action of the discharge current magnetic field on the directional pattern of the ion flow.     

Experimental study of the spatial structure of high-energy ion sources in micropinch

Images of ion sources in the plasma of a micropinch discharge were recorded. The most intense ion source was found to be a ⩾1-mm-diameter 3-mm-long anode region. The main contribution to the images is made by single-charged ions of the plasma-forming element with energies of 10–50 keV.     

Experimental observation of electron beam generation in the paraxial region of a high-current discharge due to a pinch effect

The phenomenon of “runaway” of electrons in the paraxial region of a Z-pinch discharge in the heavy element environment has been experimentally observed using the methods of pulsed optical shadowgraphy, X-ray pinhole imaging, and time-of-flight measurements.     

Peculiarities of the spatial structure and dynamics of the plasma of a fast Z-pinch produced in the high-Z medium of a high-current vacuum spark

The spatial structure and dynamics of the plasma of a high-current vacuum spark is investigated using pulsed shadowgraphy. Anisotropy of the plasma outflow from a micropinch region has been revealed. The existence of cavities in the sausage-type instability in the final stage of pinching has been recorded. The formation of a filamentary plasma structure at the discharge periphery is revealed.