Plasma dynamics from a two-gun plasma focus device

Summary Form only given, as follows. The Mather-type two-gun plasma focus device has a pair of cylindrical electrodes connected head to head. Their separation can be altered, whereas the electrode length remains unchanged. This feature allows for the study of the interaction between two plasma foci at the same operational parameters (1520 mu F, 19 kV). A peak current of 3 MA was obtained to create a plasma focus in front of the corresponding electrodes. Measurements of the streak photographs indicate that the lifetime of the focus is approximately 40 ns. The radial collapse and axial velocities are 15 and 21 cm/ mu s, respectively. The plasma beams will collide and form a compressed spot of approximately 1 cm. Then radial expansion at a speed of approximately 10 cm/s is observed. This dynamic behavior has been studied as the separation between the anodes decreases.<>