Investigation of a 5 kJ conical Z-pinch discharge

A conical 5 kJ Z-pinch experiment with 35 mu s discharge time was constructed and operated. Preliminary results showed that the total circuit parameters are 287 nH inductance and 13 m Omega total resistance. The cone plasma inductance has its maximum value at the pinch. It has been determined that the pinching time is inversely proportional to the deposited energy. Moreover, a calculated delay time of about 2.1 mu s is required for the pinch to occur and the calculated sheath velocity ranges between 1 and 11.5 cm/mu s. Erosion of the pin electrode could potentially explain the difference between the mass of helium gas inside the cone and the calculated swept mass. The main product of the ionization process is a singly-ionized helium atom.