EXTRAP as a dynamic system

The behaviour of the plasma in the EXTRAP device was found to differ drastically from the conventional Z-pinch discharges. The comparative discussion on the properties of these two configurations is presented. It is shown that the energy mechanism is responsible for the arising difference between them. Given the lack of experimental data on the confinement of the peripheral plasma, in the present study we suggest a scaling for the net energy loss with plasma density and temperature. Using self-similar methods, we show that strongly non-linear damped oscillations arise as a result of our scaling. Some preliminary results on the stability of this system are reported. Finally, some technical recommendations for the design of the toroidal device EXTRAP T1 are put forward. In particular the scheme, allowing the extension of the pulse duration, which is rather limited in the present version, is suggested. (Author)