Table Of ContentSpringer Series on Atomic, Optical, and Plasma Physics 101
Victor Kolikov · Alexander Bogomaz
Alexander Budin
Powerful
Pulsed Plasma
Generators
Research and Application
Springer Series on Atomic, Optical,
and Plasma Physics
Volume 101
Editor-in-chief
GordonW.F.Drake,DepartmentofPhysics,UniversityofWindsor,Windsor,ON,
Canada
Series editors
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QC, Canada
Klaus Bartschat, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Drake University,
Des Moines, IA, USA
Philip George Burke, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University,
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Tom Gallagher, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Charles J. Joachain, Faculty of Science, Université Libre Bruxelles, Bruxelles,
Belgium
Peter Lambropoulos, FORTH, IESL, University of Crete, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
Gerd Leuchs, Institut für Theoretische Physik I, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg,
Erlangen, Germany
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Victor Kolikov Alexander Bogomaz
(cid:129)
Alexander Budin
Powerful Pulsed Plasma
Generators
Research and Application
123
Victor Kolikov Alexander Budin
Institute for Electrophysics Institute for Electrophysics
andPowerEnergetics andPowerEnergetics
Russian Academy of Sciences Russian Academy of Sciences
St.Petersburg, Russia St.Petersburg, Russia
Alexander Bogomaz
Institute for Electrophysics
andPowerEnergetics
Russian Academy of Sciences
St.Petersburg, Russia
ISSN 1615-5653 ISSN 2197-6791 (electronic)
SpringerSeries onAtomic, Optical, andPlasma Physics
ISBN978-3-319-95248-2 ISBN978-3-319-95249-9 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95249-9
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Foreword
The book contains a lot of the unique experimental data and results of theoretical
estimations in the field of powerful pulsed electric discharges in superdense gases.
The main motivation for the authors of the book to publish it is the unflagging
interest ofresearchers andpractitioners tothe electrophysical methodsof ultrahigh
energygasplasmaobtaininganduseofsuchplasmainphysicalexperiments.Atthe
authors’ participation, many studies have been carried out to identify the possi-
bilitiesforusingthelow-temperatureplasmaasasourceofintenseX-rayandother
types of radiation. It has been experimentally established that an increase in the
initial gas pressure to hundreds of megapascals is increased the stability of arc
burning, efficiency of energy transfer from the arc to the gas, and growth of the
enthalpy of the plasma. The obtained data are the basis for the development of
electrophysicaldeviceswithahighenergydensityofthegasplasma.Theseinclude
high-intensity sources of visible, UV, and X-ray radiation for laser pumping,
generators of high-enthalpy plasma jets, and plasmachemical reactors. One among
themainresultsofthestudiesisthattheincreaseinparticleconcentrationinthearc
atgrowthoftemperaturecausesintenseX-rayradiation.Besides,itwasfoundthata
shockwavereflectedfromthewalloftheelectrodischargechambercompressesthe
arcandincreasestheenergydensityoftheplasmaanditstemperature.Basedonthe
original designs of electric discharge chambers, the highly efficient pulsed plasma
generators had been developed those withstand the repeated impact of ultrahigh
energyplasma.Thebooksummarizestheresultsofresearchespublishedinarticles
and reports presented at conferences. The book includes chapters devoted to a
detailed description of the results of investigations of both pulsed electric arcs and
the design of pulsed plasma generators.
Iamsurethatthisbookwillbeusefulbothforprofessionalsinthisfield,andfor
students of relevant specialties.
St. Petersburg, Russia Prof. G. A. Shneerson
v
Preface
This book isbased on the results ofthe experimental and theoreticalstudies ofthe
electrical mega-ampere pulsed arcs and mechanisms of energy transfer from arc to
hydrogen, helium, and air under initial pressure up to 360 MPa, and current up to
2 MA. The principal motive for carrying out of these researches was the pressing
need of transition from already mastered in a science and technicsrange of energy
of106–107Jtohighervalues.Suchproblem,inturn,hasdemandedtheincreasein
the discharge current amplitude till 1–10 MA and more at time length of the first
half-period of the discharge current (cid:1)10−4 s.
ItwasfoundexperimentallythatincreasingtohundredsofMPaoftheinitialgas
pressureleadstoarcstability,highefficiencyoftheenergytransferfromarctogas,
and plasma enthalpy growth. In the book, the revealed features of such discharges
caused in high density of energy in the arc channel and a high pressure of sur-
rounding gas are described. These features are absent or weakly are present in the
discharges in less dense environment and with smaller density of plasma energy.
Obtained data are the basis for the development of electrophysics devices with
high energy density. Those include high-intensity sources of visible, UV, and
X-rays irradiation for the lasers pumping, generators of high-enthalpy plasma jets,
and plasmachemical reactors.
Theinterestofresearchersinthesestudiesisexplainedbyachievingtheextreme
plasmaparametersandincreasingtheenergydensityinthearc.Forthesepurposes,the
X-andZ-pinches,plasmafocuses,andmultiwireassembliesareused.Furthermore,in
thesecomplexelectricaldeviceswitharateofcurrentrise (cid:1)1014A/s,plasmaexists
lessthanonemicrosecondinthevolumenotmorethanfewcubicmillimeters.
High-density plasma of more volume with the electron concentration of
1019–1021 cm−3 and temperature of 105–106 K can be produced by means of
Z-pinchesdevicesthosehavelowMHDinstabilities.Tosupplysucharcs,itcanuse
thecapacitivestorageswithalowerrateofcurrentrise,i.e.,cheaperthanmentioned
above.
vii
viii Preface
It was found that the growth of the particle concentration in arc at temperature
increasing generates the intense X-ray irradiation. The cumulation of the shock
wave reflected from the cylindrical wall of the Z-pinch discharge chamber com-
presses the arc and increases its energy density and temperature.
High-power thermal flows to the electrodes produce such kind of erosions as
ejection of surface layer of molten metal from the electrodes and electrode jets.
Thesejetsformtheturbulentzonesandgreatlyimpactthepropertiesofarc,andthe
heat and mass transfer to the gas. All these are contrasted sharply against the arcs
with lower current density, in which the jets do not play a significant role.
Vaporandparticlesofelectrodes’metalunderthehighconcentrationchangethe
arc properties. This applies in particular to the sharp growth of the near-electrode
voltagedrops,whichhasnotstillaconvincingexplanation.Theresultsofourstudy
show that one reason for this phenomenon is the electrode jets.
Under the initial gas pressure of tens and hundreds of MPa, the radiative
characteristics of the arc are changing. These changes are caused by growth of
temperatureandconcentrationofparticlesinthearc.Asaresult, itischangingthe
transparency of the arc itself, and the transparency of the transition layer between
the arc and the surrounding gas. Under these conditions, the effect of radiation
imprisonment is observed, and arc temperature is increased. In its turn, growth of
arc temperature and concentration of the radiative ions cause the arc compression
and increase of energy density in arc due to excess of radiation power above the
electric power.
In the book, the description of experimental stands with the maximal storage
energy up to 9 MJ and current amplitude up to 10 MA and designs of pulse
generators of plasma take the important place, due to which there was the possi-
bility of carrying out the researches in a unique range of parameters. Experiments
were realized in hydrogen, helium, and air at initial pressure from 0.1 up to 360
MPaandcurrentamplitudeof0.2–2.0MAatcurrentriserateof108–1010A/s.Itis
necessary to note that by virtue of features of the discharge initiation at high
pressures, for this purpose, the metal wire was used. Thereof, and also because of
erosion of electrodes in rather “slow” discharges, the channel plasma consisted of
ionsofmetal.Infasterdischargesforerosion-resistantelectrodes(orotherwaysof
initiation), the structure of plasma was defined by surrounding gas.
In our opinion from the resultsof researches described in the book, the greatest
scientific and practical interest is represented with the following:
(cid:129) The developed designs of plasma generators that allow experiments to be per-
formed at an initial gas molecular concentration of >1022 cm−3 and currents as
high as 10 MA.
(cid:129) Modeofprogrammedenergyinputinanarcwhichallowstoincreaseessentially
an energy input at constant current amplitude.
(cid:129) Occurrence of a mode of turbulent heat exchange between an arc and sur-
rounding gas due to which efficiency of gas heating can exceed 90%.
(cid:129) Formation of near-electrode zones with is abnormal voltage drop (>1 kV),
caused by intensive electrode jets.
Preface ix
(cid:129) Athigh densityofworkinggas,thecontributionofshock waves togas heating
considerably grows.
(cid:129) The mode of the discharge channel contraction which was observed at current
amplitudeof0.5–1.5MAandgaspressureof5–30MPaandaroseatexcessof
power of radiative losses over the Joule heating power enclosed in an arc is
discovered and investigated.
The main contents of the book are presented in papers, in conferences, and in
authors’ dissertations. The book may be of interest for both undergraduate and
graduate students in related disciplines, and for professionals employed in other
fields of studies who would want to further explore this subject in depth.
St. Petersburg, Russia Victor Kolikov
Alexander Bogomaz
Alexander Budin
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Yu. Ardentov, L. Bukhteev, Yu. Gusev, M. Heyfits,
A. Koval’, V. Mamutov, M. Meshkov, N. Solomakhov, V. Tanevsky, and
A. Tkachenko for contribution in the research, discussion, and interpretation; for-
merco-workers:D.Andreev,V.Borodin,A.Glukhov,A.Kulishevich,A.Kuprin,
B.Levchenko, S.Losev,I.Makarevich,A.Radiushin,A.Savvateev,N.Shirokov,
V. Svetova, A. Voronov, S. Zakharenkov, V. Zhuravlev, and M. Znesin for their
contribution; co-workers: G. Antonov, A. Leks, V. Leontiev, M. Pinchuk, and
A.Pozubenkovfortheircollaboration.SpecialthanksgotoourmentorPh.Rutberg
for leadership and inestimable help.
St. Petersburg, Russia Victor Kolikov
Alexander Bogomaz
Alexander Budin
xi
