Interaction of a Helium Plasma with an Inhomogeneous Transverse Magnetic Field

A dynamic helium plasma, produced by a conical z-pinch gun, was used to study interactions with an inhomogeneous transverse magnetic field. Magnetic probe measurements show that up to a critical value of the field Bc the plasma penetrates the region occupied by the field by completely removing it. An increase in the plasma electron temperature and density is seen. For fields higher than the critical value Bc, plasma penetrates in the form of thin sheets oriented along the magnetic field lines. The observed effects are compatible with the available theory if resistive effects are taken into account.