Investigation of Arc Discharge Evolution in the Coaxial Magnetically Insulated Transmission Line by Laser Diagnostics
Abstract
Interferometry and two-frame schlieren imaging were used to study arc discharge evolution in a small 1.3-2.3-mm gap, coaxial, magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL) driven by a 2-TW generator with a current pulse rise time of 70 ns. Two kinds of plasma objects were observed in experiments: Arc discharges and low density "seeds". The low-density seeds in the regions near electrodes expand after closure of the gap. The arc discharge dense plasma fills most of the MITL gap and produces a trace of evaporated metal on the surface of electrodes. Arc discharge typically arises near the cathode. Anode plasma arises in the later stage, after which dense plasma fills the MITL gap. The work was supported by the DOE NNSA/NV Cooperative Agreement DE-FC08-01NV14050 and the DOE EPSCoR grant.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..DPPQP1158I