Compression of Plasma to Megabar Range using Imploding Liner

Abstract

Axial current discharges were used to implode spherical aluminum shells with thickness tapered to match the external magnetic pressure. These implosions were used to compress hydrogen plasmas with an initial pressure $>100\mathrm{bar}$ and an initial temperature $>1\mathrm{eV}$. The implosion and compressed plasma effect on a central target were observed radiographically. The target's radius vs time indicates that the plasma pressure reaches $\ensuremath{\sim}1\mathrm{Mbar}$ prior to liner-target contact.