Physical processes in the final phase of the plasma focus

A description of the final phase of the plasma focus is proposed based on t he classical plasma physics concept. It is shown that, taking into consider ation the cumulative plasma heating and the occurrence of a shock wave refl ected from the axis, it is possible to qualitatively explain the experiment ally observed phenomena, such as current disruption, the generation of a st rong electric field, and other accompanying effects. If a weak poloidal mag netic field is initially present in the plasma column, then this field can increase in magnitude to a value comparable to the azimuthal magnetic field . (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".