Bayesian inference of spectrometric data and validation with numerical simulations of plasma sheath diagnostics of a plasma focus discharge

Plasma Foci are pulsed coaxial discharges with numerous radiation applications and interesting scientific phenomena. Although the physics answered much of the processes involved in these discharges, many related fundamental questions still remains doggedly unresolved. One of the obstacles to deeper knowledge is the scarcity of reliable experimental data. This work presents an elaborate experimental assessment of the electron density in the rundown phase of a 400 J Plasma Focus operating with hydrogen. The rundown of the plasma sheath is basically a hypersonic shock wave between two coaxial electrodes accelerated by the Lorentz force, and it is important to control the pinch formation. The electron density of the passing sheath is measured by means of the Stark broadened hydrogen alpha emission with spatial and temporal resolution. The experimental data is post-processed using Bayesian posterior probability assessment. The results are conflated with the numerical model CShock to construe an educated explanation of the sheath behavior during the rundown. In particular, it is possible to reckon the formation of a toroidal instability reported in previous experiments, and to estimate the plasma sheath temperature (4–20 eV) and velocity (62.5 km/s) at this stage.