Formation of dense, electromagnetically accelerated plasma for laboratory astrophysics

Abstract

We proposed tapered pinch discharge as a measure to conduct laboratory astrophysics experiments. Basic behaviors of the plasma have been characterized using a prototype device. Results show that the plasma flux and velocity depend on initial gas density, discharge current and taper geometry. Those behaviors can be illustrated with a simple model considering the pinching dynamics of the current sheet based on a 1 dimensional (1-D) equation of motion. Achievable value of the tapered pinch plasma is estimated and compared with required plasma parameters based on scaling parameters for laboratory astrophysics.