Dynamics of a high-temperature pinch in the presence of dust

Results are presented from experimental studies of the formation of a pinch in a plasma focus discharge in the presence of Al2O3 dust grains. Considerable attention is given to an analysis of the method for creating a dust target and determining its parameters. Phase transitions in a dust medium have been analyzed. It is found that the phase state of the dust component can be substantially affected by the radiation of the imploding plasma shell even in the preimplosion phase of the discharge. It is shown that a pinch produced in the presence of dust is more stable against MHD instabilities