Nv. Filippov et al., Studies of interaction of plasma jets generated in a plasma focus facilitywith an ambient plasma in external magnetic field, NUKLEONIKA, 46(1), 2001, pp. 31-34
The aim of the present experiments was to reproduce and to study in laborat
ory quasi-perpendicular supercritical collisionless shocks similar to the E
arth-Solar Wind shock, by using a plasma focus facility as the plasma sourc
e. The experiments were performed on the PF-3 facility (Filippov-type plasm
a focus) at a level of energy supply of about 1 MJ. Directed plasma jets ar
e produced with axial velocities similar to 10(7) cm/s after compression of
a plasma-current sheath in the initial stage of plasma focus formation. Th
ese jets then travel through an ambient plasma resulting in early gas ioniz
ation by X-ray radiation from the plasma focus, and at an angle of 90 degre
es to the 2500 G external magnetic field applied by a system based on rear-
earth magnets. Our experimental conditions allowed us to reach a range MA s
imilar to5 divided by 10.