Numerical study on the dynamics of Z-pinch carbon plasma

Abstract

The dynamics of Z-pinch carbon plasma has been investigated using one-dimensional Lagrangian code. This code calculates the single-fluid, two-temperature magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations coupled with an ionization balance equation. The motion of plasma column and shock front is studied in comparison with the analytical models such as the snowplow and the slug model. The energy flow during the pinch is also studied. During the pinch phase, the temperature increases due to shock heating and adiabatic heating. After the pinch the plasma is cooled down rapidly due to adiabatic expansion which can lead to an adequate condition for recombination Extreme-Ultra-Violet (XUV) lasers. The effect of the radiative trapping of resonance line on hydrodynamics and population kinetics is also investigated. The calculation shows that there can exist a high gain on hydrogen-like C VI Balmer-alpha line (18.2 nm). (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.