Published October 2010 | Version v1
Journal article

Measurements of velocity shear and ion viscosity profile in a magnetohydrodynamic plasma jet

  • 1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)

Description

Time-dependent, two-dimensional profiles of the axial flow velocity, density, electron temperature, and magnetic field components are measured at two axial locations in a screw pinch plasma column of the reconnection scaling experiment. The results show that the ion momentum flux for a given column radius is dissipated by the ion-ion Coulomb scattering viscosity due to a significant radial shear of the axial velocity. By comparing the terms of the magnetohydrodynamic momentum balance equation, radial profile of ion viscosity is determined. Chord-integrated ion temperature measurements performed at several radial locations using Doppler broadening spectroscopy show ion temperature of about 1 eV. Measured ion viscosity agrees within a factor of 2 with the classical Braginskii expectations.

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Plasmas
Journal Volume
17
Journal Issue
10
Journal Page Range
p. 102101-102101.8
ISSN
1070-664X
CODEN
PHPAEN

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2010 American Institute of Physics