LARGE MAGNETIC-FIELDS GENERATED BY Z-PINCH FLUX COMPRESSION

Experiments to generate large magnetic fields by flux compression have been performed in two z-pinch configurations: (i) a novel plasma line r developed from a thin cylindrical surfactant film and (ii) a convent ional gas pinch formed in a uniform cylinder of gas. The apparatus, ex periments, and the results obtained are described in this article. A c omprehensive investigation of the gas pinch shows that an optimum set of conditions exists, for given discharge parameters, for obtaining th e highest magnetic field. The scaling of the attainable peak magnetic field with discharge parameters is obtained experimentally and compare d with simplified models of the compression. Using a current of 500 kA with tau(1/4) = 2 mu s, an initial magnetic field of 0.3 T has been c ompressed to 38 T, demonstrating a compression ratio of over 120. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(98)01420-0].