Strong axial laser heating of a theta-pinch plasma
- 15 December 1973
- journal article
- research article
- Published by AIP Publishing in Applied Physics Letters
- Vol. 23 (12) , 693-695
- https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1654793
Abstract
Holographic interferograms are shown of θ‐pinch plasmas heated axially by 35 J of 10.6‐μm radiation. One hundred percent conversion of laser to plasma thermal energy is indicated by the resultant plasma expansion and inferred temperature increase from 10 to 65 eV. The heated plasma column is 10 cm long by 6 mm in diameter and at an electron density of about 5 × 1017 cm−3. The laser heating process is seen to produce a self‐trapping density minimum on axis in contrast to the density maximum encountered in normal unheated θ pinches. This has significant implications for the high‐density laser‐heated long‐solenoid approach to fusion.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Staging of theta pinches using laser-heat addition and magnetic compressionApplied Physics Letters, 1973
- Propagation of Coherent Radiation in a Cylindrical Plasma ColumnPhysics of Fluids, 1971
- One-Dimensional Laser Heating of a Stationary PlasmaPhysics of Fluids, 1971