Measuring the equations of state in a relaxed magnetohydrodynamic plasma

Authors

M. Kaur
L. J. Barbano
E. M. Suen-Lewis
J. E. Shrock
A. D. Light
M. R. Brown
David A. Schaffner, Bryn Mawr CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Version

Final Published Version

Publication Title

Physical Review

Volume

97

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

We report measurements of the equations of state of a fully relaxed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) laboratory plasma. Parcels of magnetized plasma, called Taylor states, are formed in a coaxial magnetized plasma gun, and are allowed to relax and drift into a closed flux conserving volume. Density, ion temperature, and magnetic field are measured as a function of time as the Taylor states compress and heat. The theoretically predicted MHD and double adiabatic equations of state are compared to experimental measurements. We find that the MHD equation of state is inconsistent with our data.

Citation

M. Kaur, L. J. Barbano, E. M. Suen-Lewis, J. E. Shrock, A. D. Light, M. R. Brown, and D. A. Schaffner. "Measuring the equations of state in a relaxed magnetohydrodynamic plasma." Physical Review 97.1, 011202(R).

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.97.011202