Progress in the investigation of magnetized plasma parameters in the magnetic compressure system (MAGO)

Works on the investigation of a magnetized plasma commenced and developed in the framework of MAGO (magnetic compressuring) programme, that got its official status at VNIIEF in 1979. It was directed to the attainment of a thermonuclear ignition in dense targets (without the use of fissionable materials) by means of their compression by liners accelerated to high velocities by a magnetic field. The investigations of the magnetized plasma were focused on the production of a hot ionized low-density plasma pre-heated up to 0.2-1.5 kV and suitable for the subsequent adiabatic pressing by the liner up to thermonuclear temperatures. The development of a new type of plasma chamber has formed the basis for a new area of the works, the calculated and theoretical justification of which has been performed by the theoretical department; the experiments have been arranged and conducted at VNIIEF Electrophysical Department. This chamber has the title ´gaseous ponderomotive unit´ (GPU) or gaseous PU, and the system designed for the study of dense targets has come to be known as a liner ponderomotive unit (LPU).