Physics of High-Density Z-Pinch Plasmas

A "z-pinch" is a deceptively simple plasma configuration in which a longitudinal current produces a magnetic field that tends to confine the plasma. The simple geometry and low cost made it an early candidate for controlled fusion experiments. However, instabilities and rapid plasma loss motivated the development of more complicated plasma confinement systems such as tokamaks and stellarators. Recent experiments, in which z-pinches produced unprecedented levels of radiation and power, have led to renewed interest in the configuration. As a result, z-pinch research is currently one of the fastest growing areas of plasma physics, with revived interest in z-pinch controlled fusion reactors along with investigations of new z-pinch applications, such as, very high power x-ray sources, high-energy neutrons sources, and ultra-high magnetic fields generators. This book provides a comprehensive review of the physics of dense z-pinches. Although the thrust of the treatment is theoretical, the authors also discuss recent experimental results as well as the operating systems of the main types of electrical drivers.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction.- 1.1. An historical perspective.- 1.2. Characteristics of modern Z-pinch systems.- 1.3. The various types of Z pinches.- 1.4. Pulsed-power drivers.- 2. Equilibria of Z-Pinch Plasmas.- 2.1. Steady-state equilibria of Z-pinch plasmas.- 2.2. Equilibria of radiating Z pinches.- 3. Dynamics of Z-Pinch Plasmas.- 3.1. Formation of Z-pinch plasmas: Theoretical modeling.- 3.2. Zero-dimensional models of dynamic Z pinches.- 3.3. Fluid models of Z-pinch plasmas.- 3.4. Self-similar dynamics of an ideal MHD Z pinch.- 3.5. Self-similar solutions for time-dependent Z-pinch equilibria.- 4. Stability of Z-Pinch Plasmas.- 4.1. The stability of steady-state Z pinches.- 4.2. Effect of ohmic heating and radiative losses: Overheating instability and filamentation.- 4.3. Resistive and viscous effects on Z-pinch stability: Heat conductivity.- 4.4. Effects of finite and large ion Larmor radius: The Hall effect.- 4.5. Kinetic effects.- 4.6. Nonlinear evolution of the m = 0 mode.- 5. Rayleigh—Taylor Instability of a Plasma Accelerated by Magnetic Pressure.- 5.1. Rayleigh—Taylor instabilities of dynamic plasmas.- 5.2. Ideal MHD model: The Rayleigh—Taylor instability modes.- 5.3. Ideal MHD model: Effects of plasma compressibility and magnetic shear.- 5.4. Effect of magnetic shear.- 5.5. Dissipative effects.- 5.6. Large Larmor-radius effects.- 5.7. Nonlinear evolution of the Rayleigh—Taylor instability.- 6. Stability of Dynamic Z-Pinches and Liners.- 6.1. The thin-shell model.- 6.2. Growth of the RT instabilities in a layer of finite thickness.- 6.3. Rayleigh—Taylor instabilities in an imploding Z pinch: The snowplow model.- 6.4. Imploding wire arrays.- 6.5. Ideal MHD model.- 6.6. Stability of gas-puff Z-pinch implosions.- 6.7. Stabilization of long-wavelength sausage andkink modes of a Z pinch by radial oscillations.- 6.9. Two-dimensional simulation of magnetically driven.- Rayleigh—Taylor instabilities in cylindrical Z pinches.- 7. Applications of Z Pinches.- 7.1. Controlled nuclear fusion.- 7.2. Z pinches as sources of x-ray and neutron radiation.- 7.3. X-ray laser.- 7.4. Production of ultrahigh pulsed-magnetic fields.- 7.5. Focusing high-energy particles in an accelerator.- Conclusions.- References.