The effect of targets within the turbulent plasma wind tunnel studies on the Bryn Mawr Experiment (BMX)

An overview and recent progress of activities at the Bryn Mawr Plasma Laboratory (BMPL) is presented. The main experiment at the facility, the Bryn Mawr Experiment (BMX), consists of a 4mF pulse-forming network that generates ~180us of stationary broadband fluctuations of magnetic field and plasma using a magnetized coaxial plasma gun source. Two experiments are explored in this poster: The effect of an ½’’ aluminum endcap disk about 30cm from the end of the gun source which effectively reduces the column size of the wind tunnel; and the effect of a line of constant current (much longer pulse than the plasma discharge) through a diameter of the column. The line of current produces magnetic field pressure that counters the kinetic ram pressure from the plasma plume. Initial observations indicate that probes near the column of current measure a reduced average magnetic field compared to when there is no current in the wire, indicating some amount of shielding of the plasma plume by the magnetic fields produced by the current in the wire. Effects of both the endcap disk and the wire current target on magnetic and electric field fluctuations and turbulence are examined.