Investigation of theta-pinch produced shock waves in a plasma

Abstract

This report discusses the completion and operational testing of the theta pinch experiment at the Naval Postgraduate School Plasma Facility. The system consists of a 42 |iF capacitor bank feeding a single turn theta pinch coil with a total energy capacity of 13.1 kJ . Included is a brief discussion of the theory of shock wave generation and propagation in a plasma along with experimental verification of reproducible hydrodynamic shock waves of Mach ~ 16 produced in a' neutral Argon gas at 0.1 torr. Calculations based on the theory of shock wave thicknesses (3 cm.) are compared to observed values (10 cm.) at this pressure. An outline of proposed future experiments at the Plasma Facility is included in the recommendations.