Study of a cumulative jet in a plasma focus discharge by the method of shearing interferometry

The dynamics of the cumulative jet formed in the course of plasma compression in a plasma focus discharge is investigated by the method of differential optical interferometry. The jet propagation velocity is found to be V = (2.3–3) × 107 cm/s, which coincides with the results of calculations performed in a 2D ideal MHD model. Ejection of matter from the anode in the late stage of the discharge due to the interaction of the cumulative jet and the electron beam with the anode surface is observed.