Fluids (Mar 2019)

1-D Modeling of the Screw-Pinch Plasma in PROTO-SPHERA

  • Paolo Buratti,
  • Brunello Tirozzi,
  • Franco Alladio,
  • Paolo Micozzi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids4010042
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
p. 42

Abstract

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A simple steady-state model for a 3-species mixture (ions, electrons, and neutrals) in a screw-pinch plasma configuration is developed. The model is applied to the central plasma column of the PROTO-SPHERA experiment. Degree of ionization, azimuthal current density, and azimuthal ion velocity are calculated. Full ionization is found at plasma temperatures above 1.5 eV, with neutrals confined in an outer shell where radial plasma flow develops and drives both azimuthal current and azimuthal flow.

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