Axial laser heating of three meter theta pinch plasma
Abstract
The results of a four year effort on laser heating a 3 m long plasma in a fast rising solenoidal field are presented. It was found that beam trapping density minimums could be maintained for the length of the laser pulse if the plasma diameter exceeded about 1.5 cm. The erosion of the density minimum was governed by classical diffusion processes. Three meter long plasmas in 2.6 cm bore plasma tubes could be fairly uniformly heated by 3.0 kJ of CO2 laser radiation. Best results were obtained when heating began before or during the theta pinch implosion phase and the plasma fill pressure exceeded 1.0 torr H2. Plasma line energies of about 1 kJ/m could be obtained in a magnetic field rising to 6 tesla in 4.7 microsec.
- Publication:
-
Unknown
- Pub Date:
- November 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979alht.rept.....H
- Keywords:
-
- Laser Heating;
- Plasma Pinch;
- Carbon Dioxide Lasers;
- Plasma Density;
- Plasma Diffusion;
- Plasma Physics