Integral Plasma Current and Determination of Current Sheet Parameters

Abstract

A method for prompt estimation of a number of key parameters that determine the features of the evolution and dynamics of current sheets produced in laboratory experiments has been proposed and realized experimentally. The method is based on the analysis of time dependences of the integral plasma current during its first half-period. The transverse dimensions of the current sheets and the strength of the initial electric field that initiates the sheet formation can be estimated on the base of defining the inductances of both the entire oscillatory contour and the region where the plasma current flows. Data on the plasma conductivity can be obtained by measuring the active resistance of the plasma gap and the dimensions of the current sheet. It is shown that the conductivity increased under conditions that corresponded to an increase in plasma density, indicating a turbulent nature of the conductivity.