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Y Maron

Publications and source records attributed to Y Maron.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Electron-temperature and energy-flow history in an imploding plasma.

The time-dependent radial distribution of the electron temperature in a 0.6 micros, 220-kA gas-puff z-pinch plasma is studied using spatially-resolved observations of line emission from singly to fivefold ionized oxygen ions during the plasma implosion, up to 50 ns before maximum compression. The temperature obtained, together with the previously determined radial distributions of the electron density, plasma radial velocity, and magnetic field, allows for studying the history of the magnetic-field energy coupling to the plasma by comparing the energy deposition and dissipation rates in the plasma. It is found that at this phase of the implosion, approximately 65% of the energy deposited in the plasma is imparted to the plasma radial flow, with the rest of the energy being converted into internal energy and radiation.

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Use of emission-line intensities for a self-consistent determination of the particle densities in a transient plasma.

A method for a self-consistent determination of the time history of the electron density, electron temperature, and ionic charge-state composition in a multicomponent plasma, using time-dependent measurements and calculations of absolute emission-line intensities, is presented. The method is applied for studying the properties of an imploding gas-puff Z-pinch plasma that contains several oxygen ions up to the fifth ionization stage. Furthermore, by using intensity ratios of lines from different ion species, the electron temperature was determined with a much improved accuracy, in comparison to previous spectroscopic studies of the same plasma. The ion-density history obtained, together with the known time-dependent radial boundaries of the plasma shell, allowed for tracking the rise in time of the mass swept by the magnetic field during the implosion.

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Ion separation due to magnetic field penetration into a multispecies plasma.

The magnetic field, the electron density, and the ion velocities in a multispecies plasma conducting a high fast-rising current are determined using simultaneous spectroscopic measurements. It is found that ion separation occurs in which a light-ion plasma is pushed ahead while a heavy-ion plasma lags behind the magnetic piston. We show that most of the momentum imparted by the magnetic field pressure is taken by the reflected light ions, and most of the dissipated magnetic field energy is converted into kinetic energy of these ions, even though their mass is only a small part of the total plasma mass. Such species separation with implications to the momenta and energy partitioning is shown to be of a general nature.

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VUV absorption spectroscopy measurements of the role of fast neutral atoms in a high-power gap breakdown

The maximum power achieved in a wide variety of high-power devices, including electron and ion diodes, z pinches, and microwave generators, is presently limited by anode-cathode gap breakdown. A frequently discussed hypothesis for this effect is ionization of fast neutral atoms injected throughout the anode-cathode gap during the power pulse. We describe a newly developed diagnostic tool that provides a direct test of this hypothesis. Time-resolved vacuum-ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy is used to directly probe fast neutral atoms with 1-mm spatial resolution in the 10-mm anode-cathode gap of the SABRE 5 MV, 1 TW applied-B ion diode. Absorption spectra collected during Ar RF glow discharges and with CO2 gas fills confirm the reliability of the diagnostic technique. Throughout the 50-100 ns ion diode pulses no measurable neutral absorption was seen, setting upper limits of (0.12-1.5)x10(14) cm(-3) for ground-state fast neutral atom densities of H, C, N, O, and F. The absence of molecular absorption bands also sets upper limits of (0.16-1.2)x10(15) cm(-3) for common simple molecules. These limits are low enough to rule out ionization of fast neutral atoms as a breakdown mechanism. Breakdown due to ionization of molecules is also found to be unlikely. This technique can now be applied to quantify the role of neutral atoms in other high-power devices.

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