Observation of fast current redistribution in an imploding plasma column

Christine Stollberg; Eyal Kroupp; Dimitry Mikitchuk; Prashant Sharma; Vladimir Bernshtam; Marko Cvejic; Ramy Doron; Evgeny Stambulchik; Yitzhak Maron; Amnon Fruchtman; Ian E. Ochs; Nathaniel J. Fisch; Uri Shumlak

arXiv · 2111.06450

Observation of fast current redistribution in an imploding plasma column

Christine Stollberg·Eyal Kroupp·Dimitry Mikitchuk·Prashant Sharma·Vladimir Bernshtam·Marko Cvejic·Ramy Doron·Evgeny Stambulchik·Yitzhak Maron·Amnon Fruchtman·Ian E. Ochs·Nathaniel J. Fisch·Uri Shumlak

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Abstract

Spectroscopic measurements of the magnetic field evolution in a Z-pinch throughout stagnation and with particularly high spatial resolution reveal a sudden current redistribution from the stagnating plasma (SP) to a low density plasma (LDP) at larger radii, while the SP continues to implode. Based on the plasma parameters it is shown that the current is transferred to an increasing-conductance LDP outside the stagnation, a process likely to be induced by the increasing impedance of the SP. Since an LDP often exists around imploding plasmas and in various pulsed-power systems, such a fast current redistribution may dramatically affect the behavior and achievable parameters in these systems.

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Christine Stollberg, Eyal Kroupp, Dimitry Mikitchuk, Prashant Sharma, Vladimir Bernshtam, Marko Cvejic, Ramy Doron, Evgeny Stambulchik, Yitzhak Maron, Amnon Fruchtman, Ian E. Ochs, Nathaniel J. Fisch, Uri Shumlak. 2023-03-12. Observation of fast current redistribution in an imploding plasma column. https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.06450

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