Study of three-dimensional structure in wire-array z pinches by controlled seeding of axial modulations in wire radius

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Nov 25;95(22):225001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.225001. Epub 2005 Nov 21.

Abstract

Three-dimensional perturbations have been seeded in wire-array z pinches by etching 15 microm diameter aluminum wires to introduce 20% modulations in radius with a controlled axial wavelength. These perturbations seed additional three-dimensional imploding structures that are studied experimentally and with magnetohydrodynamics calculations, highlighting the role of current path nonuniformity in perturbation-induced magnetic bubble formation.