Analysis of Radial Phase of Dense Plasma Focus with a Modified Electrode System Using Laser Interferometry and Electrical Measurements

We focus on the analysis of implosion parameters - the implosion velocity and mass coupled with electrical parameters observed on the PF-1000 facility with a modified electrode system. The first two are based on the 16-frame Mach-Zehnder interferometer, which provides a spatial electron density distribution in a time sequence. This diagnostics also provided an inductance estimation since we registered imploding layer during the radial phase. Measuring electrical waveforms enables us to evaluate the total inductance and kinetic energy incoming from the capacitor bank. Then comparing the inductances and kinetic energies evaluated from the interferograms, and electrical waveforms provided a possible way to deal with the fact that only part of the total current flows through the layer. With the supposition that the rest of the current flows close to the insulator, we conclude that only 70 % of the total current flows through the pinch, which is in good agreement with the Lee model, for example.