Investigation of electron-proton drifts with Thomson scattering

Abstract

We present a detailed investigation of asymmetric ion features of Thomson scattering spectra observed in the compression phase of a gas-liner pinch discharge. The asymmetries can be explained by drift velocities between electrons and ions, and an appropriate form factor taking into account drift velocities and different atomic species in the plasma can be fitted to the detected spectra. By varying the scattering volume in the midplane of the discharge the magnitude and direction of the drift are measured. These results and pinhole pictures of the whole plasma column show that the drifts are produced by Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities resulting in high radial current density components of the discharge current.