Acceleration of Plasma by a Propagating Current Sheet

The structure of a propagating current sheet in a linear pinch discharge in argon is examined with magnetic and electric probes, and interpreted from a magnetogasdynamic point of view. From an integration of the jzBθ distributions it is deduced that the bulk of the initial mass fill of the chamber is radially accelerated to the current sheet velocity. Acceleration of ions in the sheet is partially accomplished by a radial electric field, which imparts about half of the necessary energy. The remaining energy is acquired through a jz+Bθ force applied to the ions, which are deflected axially as they pass through the sheet, and, therefore, conduct a large fraction of the axial current.