Two-dimensional simulations of imploding gas puff plasmas

Summary Form only given, as follows. Two-dimensional single-fluid magnetohydrodynamic simulations have been conducted to investigate short-wavelength and long-wavelength disturbances of gas-puff plasma implosions, including the effects of gas injection and power flow to the plasma annulus. The numerical calculations were carried out using the MHD (magnetohydrodynamics) code MACH2 for different plasma density profiles and electrode geometries. Results show the effects of long-wavelength disturbances resulting from the gas injection and short-wavelength instabilities resulting from the gas injection and short-wavelength instabilities resulting from instabilities of the plasma-magnetic-field interface. Changes in the mass profile, gas injection angle, and electrode shape can all be used to achieve significantly greater stagnation uniformity. Consistent calculations for an entire implosion process from gas injection to stagnation including vacuum power flow indicate the degree of coupling of short-wavelength, long-wavelength, and power-flow perturbations.<>