An Experimental Study of Hot Plasma in Contact with a Cold Wall

An experimental study has been made of the energy transfer from a hot (T = 5,000,000K), dense (n = 10 to the 16th power/cc) deuterium plasma containing a strong magnetic field (B = 10,000 Gauss) brought into sudden contact with a cold wall. The energy flux from the plasma to the wall was measured using a thin film, fast rise-time bolometer. The construction, calibration, and theory of this bolometer are described. The experimentally measured energy flux was compared with a theoretical prediction employing classical plasma transverse thermal conductivity. The measured energy flux is found to be about 1.5 times that predicted by classical plasma theory. (Modified author abstract)