Initial numerical studies of the behaviour of Z-pinch plasma under liner implosion conditions

The principle of achieving thermonuclear temperatures by compression of a z-pinch plasma with a solid liner is demonstrated by one- and two-dimensional numerical calculations of the behaviour of the plasma under liner implosion conditions. The magnetohydrodynamic plasma model used includes radiation, thermal conduction, and resistive diffusion. The magnetohydrodynamic partial differential equations are solved by a computer code employing implicit finite-difference methods. The liner is represented by a moving, rigid wall, and the entire Eulerian finite-difference mesh linearly contracts as the liner moves inward. The effects of end losses and unstable boundary layer formation are demonstrated. The plasma is shown to behave significantly non-adiabatically, although some plasma is nearly adiabatically compressed. For an assumed initial plasma/magnetic-field configuration and an assumed liner velocity of 1 cm · μs −1 , plasma of 10 18 cm −3 and 600 eV is heated to peak temperatures of nearly 20 keV when the plasma volume is reduced by a factor of 900.