FAST COMMUTATION OF HIGH-CURRENT IN DOUBLE WIRE ARRAY Z-PINCH LOADS

A dynamic model of multi-MA current commutation in a double wire array Z-pinch load is proposed and studied theoretically. Initially, the lo ad is configured as nested concentric wire arrays, with the current dr iven through the outer array and imploding it. Once the outer array or the annular plasma shell formed from it approaches the inner array, t he imploded plasma might penetrate through the gaps between the wires, but the azimuthal magnetic field is trapped due to both the high cond uctivity of the inner wires and the inductive coupling between the two parts of the array, causing a rapid switching of the total current to the inner part of the array. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.