EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R81312/01
Title: Microscopic X-Pinch Plasmas of Extremely High Density And Temperatures: A Computational Investigation
Principal Investigator: Chittenden, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Lebedev, Professor S
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Cornell University Foreign Academic Institution
Department: Physics
Organisation: Imperial College London
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 2002 Ends: 30 September 2004 Value (£): 100,475
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Plasmas - Laser & Fusion
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
28 Jan 2002 Physics responsive Jan 02 Deferred
Summary on Grant Application Form
Recent experiments have demonstrated that microscopic plasmas of extraordinarily high density and temperature can be achieved with relatively small scaled laboratory facilities by using electro-magnetically imploded X-pinches. The X-pinch represents an example of an imploding plasma in which the level of radiative cooling determines the maximum extent of the compression which can be achieved and is analogous to imploding, convergent or strongly shocked astrophysical plasmas such as collapsing stars, proto-stellar jets and supernovae remnants. There is a clear need to provide a detailed understanding both of how these remarkable plasmas are formed and of which physical processes place limits on the densities and temperatures which can be achieved by this technique. With the recent development of 2D and 3D resistive MHD codes at Imperial College we are now in a unique position to provide a detailed understanding of these phenomena. We therefore propose a 3D computational investigation of radiatively cooled, imploding X-pinch plasmas. This work will form part of an international effort to understand these unique plasmas, and will include the use of comparative experimental data from collaborating groups at Cornell University, P.N. Lebedev Institute in Moscow and Pontificia Universidad Cato'lica de Chile in Santiago
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.imperial.ac.uk