Experimental demonstration of acceleration and focusing of magnetically confined plasma rings.

摘要: We have demonstrated acceleration of magnetically confined plasma rings in a coaxial accelerator, with 0.02-mg ring masses to 1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{8}$ cm/sec at \ensuremath{\ge} 30% efficiency. In some cases low-mass reached velocity 2.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{8}$ cm/sec. When the accelerated translate into conical electrodes, we observed focusing by factor \ensuremath{\sim}3 radius, 4 magnetic field amplification. A reasonably complete accounting mass, momentum, and energy confirms basic concept stable, well-confined magnetized rings.