MHD Simulations of Molybdenum X-Pinches

The compression of molybdenum X-pinches with paraboloidal and conical initial geometries is investigated using numerical radiative MHD models. The model with conical initial geometry provides a more complete description of the axial plasma motion, better reflects the actual discharge geometry, and applies to molybdenum loads with larger masses. Both models make it possible to describe the main compression stages, including the formation of a “minidiode,” the formation of a narrow neck in the constriction, the microexplosion of a “hot spot,” and the generation of shock waves followed by the breaking of the constriction.