Non-thermal effects in a hot dense plasma

A hollow gas shell Z-pinch device is described, and some initial observations are shown to lead to the conclusion that there is an energetic electron beam produced along the axis of the collapsing gas shell. An experiment is summarized that directly measured some of the characteristics of this runaway electron beam. Finally, the results of an experiment which observed a new affect are presented along with a model that uses a runaway electron beam to explain this new effect. 9 refs., 17 figs.