Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Acceleration of a pulsating plasma column

P. M. Kolesnikov

Abstract
The acceleration of a pulsating plasma column in a high-current pulsed accelerator is investigated. The pulsations are due to the magnetic pressure forces of the self-currents flowing through the column and the gas-kinetic pressure in the column. As the latter increases the pulsations damp out and may be completely absent. In this one we merely get expansion of the column. Powerful pulsations that amply affect the inductance of the system they cause excess voltages and the appearance of pinch-type instabilities. The motion of the center of mass of the column under the action of the magnetic pressure forces is also investigated. Figs. 4, Refs 16.