Study of plasma diffusion across magnetic fields using double planar wire arrays

Summary form only given. Accurately determining magnetic diffusion parameters in plasmas is important for benchmarking 3D MHD codes used for the design and interpretation of Z pinch and other plasma experiments. In this work, two planar arrays consisting of four wires each are at a fixed inter-plane spacing. The inter-wire spacing is then varied to alter the ratio of local to global magnetic field. This in turn determines the location of local precursor column structures, the current carrying regions, and the rate at which plasma may travel across the magnetic field toward the axis. Experimental work is carried out on UCSD's GenASIS LTD pulsed power driver. For this experiment, 200kA is delivered in an approximately sin2 waveform with a 150ns rise time. A variety of diagnostics are employed to diagnose parameters such as density, temperature, and magnetic field, both spatially and temporally. Simulation of the system is performed using the 3D resistive MHD code, GORGON. Computations are carried out using a new 304 processor cluster, PLEIADES, installed at the San Diego Super Computer Center at UCSD. The experimental results and comparison with simulation will be presented.