Hybrid simulations of Z-pinches Original Research Article

Three-dimensional hybrid simulations with kinetic ions and fluid electrons of Z-pinch plasmas are being used to investigate the linear and nonlinear development of sausage and kink instabilities with model profiles in the presence of effects which go beyond ideal magnetohydrodynamics. In addition, the hybrid simulations are also being applied to model start-up plasmas in long pulse Z-pinch implosions with experimental profiles and parameters. The first study demonstrates that the Hall term is destabilizing even in the presence of an otherwise stabilizing axial magnetic field. The second study shows that the non-equilibrium start-up phase of wire array implosions is characterized by rapid distortions of the plasma column.