Taylor relaxation and λ decay of unbounded, freely expanding spheromaks

A magnetized coaxial gun is discharged into a much larger vacuum chamber and the subsequent evolution of the plasma is observed using high speed cameras and a magnetic probe array. Photographic results indicate four distinct regimes of operation, labeled I-IV, each possessing qualitatively different dynamics, with the parameter lambda(gun)=mu(0)I(gun)/Phi(bias) determining the operative regime. Plasmas produced in Regime II are identified as detached spheromak configurations. Images depict a donut-like shape, while magnetic data demonstrate that a closed toroidal flux-surface topology is present. Poloidal flux amplification shows that Taylor relaxation mechanisms are at work. The spatial and temporal variation of plasma lambda=mu(0)J(phi)/B-phi indicate that the spheromak is decaying and expanding in a manner analogous to a self-similar expansion model proposed for interplanetary magnetic clouds. In Regime III, the plasma is unable to detach from the gun due to excess bias flux. Analysis of toroidal and poloidal flux as well as the lambda profile shows that magnetic flux and helicity are confined within the gun for this regime. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-664X(00)01709-2].