Energy input into a gas enclosed Z-pinch

In a gas-enclosed Z-pinch experiment, energy is coupled from an external circuit by rapid buildup of a confining field. From the basic energetics, one can calculate the necessary current rise times for maintenance of equilibrium as a thermonuclear pinch is being formed. If the rise time is too slow, the Ohmic heating of the plasma will be fast compared with the buildup of the confining field, and it will blow out; if too fast, the confining field will build up before the plasma can heat appreciably. In the early phase of heating, very short rise times are needed (nanoseconds) so that the initial tendency of the plasma is to blow outward.