Ion acceleration independent of the electric current direction in Z-pinch plasma

Abstract

Ions accelerated in z-pinch experiments with either positive or negative discharge were measured by using a Thomson Parabola analyzer in order to understand the directional tendencies of the ion acceleration. Ions having energy on the order of MeV were observed in both positive and negative discharges. The velocity and energy of each ion species were measured to be considerably similar in magnitude, in spite of the difference in the polarity of the power supplies. The highest-velocity ions with different charges in each measurement lay on the constant velocity line. The model independent of the current direction should be considered as the main mechanism of ion acceleration in this study. © 2011 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research.