Dimensional Analysis Approach to Experiments in Z pinch Devices

TL;DR

This paper applies dimensional analysis to Z pinch devices, identifying three key parameters that describe all macroscopic behaviors and proposing a method to estimate plasma temperature from these parameters.

Contribution

It introduces a dimensional analysis framework that simplifies understanding Z pinch discharges and provides a practical approach to estimate plasma temperature.

Findings

Discharges characterized by three dimensionless parameters

All physical behaviors lie on a surface in 3D parameter space

Proposed method for plasma temperature estimation

Abstract

The physical behavior of discharges in Z pinch devices can be completely deciphered in terms of only three dimensionless parameters. These parameters can be arranged in a way that draw a surface in 3D space. This surface compiles all the accessible information on the macroscopic physical behavior of each possible Z pinch discharge. We analyze the practical problems the drawing of this surface encounters and in view of the situation, we devote the remainder of the article to outline a feasible method for estimating the plasma temperature in Z pinch discharges.