Effects of the Cascade Discharge on Hollow Plasma Properties by Using Snowplow Model Simulation

The cascade discharge of the hollow plasma device is modeled using the snowplow model. In the model, one or three condenser banks discharge between the two electrodes, with a different time delay. The results were achieved with and without the hollow plasma’s multidischarge cascade. The cascade discharge aims to increase the plasma’s energy to keep the discharge current from breaking down and to keep the plasma column compressed for an extended period. Both the cascade and the single discharges affect the pinching time. The calculated induced magnetic field increases progressively until it reaches the pinch point, and then it decreases, at which point the total discharge current reaches a low value. The magnetic field distribution was calculated as a function of the plasma radius, both with and without the cascade discharge. The model demonstrates that, both with and without a cascade discharge, the magnetic field distribution is low at the tube’s exterior wall and increases toward the axis, reaching a maximum value of 138 kG in the case of a cascade discharge and 42.5 kG with a single discharge. A delay unit resembling the one found in a hollow plasma device is utilized to manually manage the electric circuit discharge simulation.