Two-Chord Digital Holographic Interferometry on Sheared-Flow-Stabilized Z-Pinch Plasma

Abstract

A two-chord digital holographic interferometry (DHI) setup is implemented on the ZaP-HD sheared-flow-stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch device. The SFS Z-pinch concept can potentially work as a fusion power generator or a space propulsion engine. The expanded DHI setup, combined with other diagnostics, offers a broader view about the plasma’s structural evolution in the Z pinch. Two-dimensional instantaneous electron density profiles are measured from the DHI setup. Comparisons are made with pinch current centroid estimated from magnetic probe array. Field of view limitations and signal noise of the DHI setup are discussed. Suggestions are made to improve the capability of the DHI setup.