Plasma Jet Studies via the Flow Z-Pinch

Abstract

The ZaP sheared-flow Z-pinch produces high density Z-pinch plasmas that are stable for up to 2000 times the classical instability times. The presence of an embedded radial shear in the axial flow is correlated with the observed stability, and is in agreement with numerical predictions of the stability threshold. The case is made that using a higher-Z working gas will produce supersonic plasma jets, consistent with dimensionless similarity constraints of astrophysical jets. This would allow laboratory testing of some regimes of astrophysical jet theory, computations, and observations.