Optical tomography of the ZaP flow Z-pinch plasma

• Main Author: Madson, Adam M.
• Other Authors: Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/24344

CIVINS === The ZaP Flow Z-Pinch Experiment forms a Z-pinch with an embedded axial flow that exhibits stability for 500 - 2000 times the instabililty growth time for a static Z-pinch. Two linear photodiode arrays placed orthogonal to each other measure chord-integrated emissivity of the plasma. Deconvolving these data produce time resolved 1-D and 2-D emission profiles of the Z-pinch cross-section during the stable quiescent period. These unfiltered emission profiles show that the pinch has a radius of approximately 1 cm. Filtering the light for H(alpha) emission shows a defined hollow profile 1 cm in radius. Bremsstrahlung filtered light exhibits a peaked profile during periods of high intensity emissivity and a hollow profile at lower intensities. Additional measurements from an Imacon camera, interferometer, and azimuthal arrays of magnetic probes determine the spatial correlation between plasma emissivity, plasma density, and plasma current. The tomographic information collected by the photodiode arrays increases understanding of flow stabilization theory and Z-pinch configuration plasmas.