Introduction to Plasmas and Plasma Dynamics

Magnetic Compression and Heating

Introduction

The application of pulsed magnetic fields to compress and heat gases has been the subject of research for more than 60 years (IAEA, 1961). Because the effects of pulsed electromagnetic discharges have proved to be useful in inducing atomic and nuclear processes, they continue to be the subject of research for nuclear energy, lasers, and space thrusters. While a number of geometries and electrical discharge configurations have been of interest, the present work will examine one configuration with unique characteristics: the linear theta pinch. This physical geometry first generated near thermonuclear plasmas in the laboratory, and it has received considerable experimental and theoretical evaluation ( ...