Experiments on the Growth Rate of Surface Instabilities in a Linear Pinched Discharge

Photographic observations on the growth of surface instabilities in a linear pinched discharge are presented, and numerical results on the growth rates are deduced from them. These are discussed with reference to the various theoretical studies made. It is shown that the Rayleigh-Taylor type of instability is likely to be the dominant process and an attempt is made to compare the observed growth rates with those predicted.