• Accepted Paper

Two-fluid effects in Z-pinch ablation characterized by unified Bayesian inversion

Bowen Zhu, Jian Wu, Wei Wang, Yuanbo Lu, Zhiyuan Jiang, Zhiyin Deng, Delong Xiao, Zhigang Liu, Huantong Shi, Xingwen Li, Hao Wang, and Aici Qiu

Phys. Rev. Lett. - Accepted 27 October, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/4wrm-gr4b

Abstract

In wire-array Z pinches, plasma ablation shapes the conditions for the subsequent implosion. Resolving separate ion and electron motion in these dense, magnetized flows remains an experimental challenge. Here, we report the first direct, spatially resolved measurements of radial (Jr) and azimuthal (Jθ) current densities in Z-pinch ablation, enabled by a Bayesian inversion framework unifying two-angle Thomson scattering, interferometry, and Faraday rotation. We infer an inward ambipolar radial electric field, Er≈−3.3×104V/m, that accelerates ions; the azimuthal current is attributed to the Hall effect. This two-fluid mechanism offers a possible common explanation for two long-standing macroscopic signatures: an anode-directed ablation-flow tilt of (8.2±2.9)∘, attributed to 𝐄×𝐁 drift, and a cathode-to-anode asymmetry of approximately 14T in the path-averaged parallel field (⟨B∥⟩≈Bθ). The magnetic asymmetry may contribute to seeding the zipper effect. A hybrid particle-in-cell simulation in axisymmetric (r,z) geometry provides supporting evidence that Jr, Er, and an anode-directed drift can arise in ablation flows, though its reduced geometry limits quantitative comparison with the two-wire experiment.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation

If the author has provided any supplemental materials with this article they will be available upon publication of the version of record.

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation