Self-organization observed in numerical simulations of a hard-core diffuse Z pinch

A hard-core Z-pinch plasma (metal conductor on axis) with an unstable pressure profile can rearrange itself through m=0 interchange motions to produce a stable pressure profile. In this paper the self-organization process is demonstrated in numerical simulations of an experimental plasma formation process, using a two-dimensional compressible two-fluid magnetohydrodynamic code. The stabilization process results in m=0 turbulence, which has a level of kinetic energy that is saturated typically at a few percent of the plasma thermal energy. Using idealized initial conditions for simulations with an axial sinusoidal density perturbation, it is possible to observe. in detail the development of instability and then turbulence. At first a coherent Rayleigh-Taylor type motion grows exponentially, With localized isentropic heating and cooling associated with the motion. Then the bubble and, spike structure breaks up and incoherent m=0 turbulence develops. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.