TARGET PLASMA FORMATION FOR MAGNETIC COMPRESSION MAGNETIZED TARGET FUSION

Experimental observations of plasma behavior in a novel plasma formation chamber are reported. Experimental results are in reasonable agreement with two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic computations suggesting that the plasma could subsequently be adiabatically compressed by a magnetically driven pusher to yield 1 GJ of fusion energy. An explosively driven helical flux compression generator mated with a unique closing switch/opening switch combination delivered a 2.7 MA, 347 mu s magnetization current and an additional 5 MA, 2.5 mu s electrical pulse to the chamber. A hot plasma was produced and 10(13) D-T fusion reactions were observed.