Observations of a dynamical percolating network in dense Z-pinch plasmas

The method of multilevel dynamical contrasting [A. B. Kukushkin and V. A. Rantsev-Kartinov, Laser Part. Beams 16, 445 (1998)] is applied to analyzing earlier Z-pinch experiments. The results suggest Z-pinch plasmas to be a dynamical percolating network formed by the long-living filaments of electric current. The probable role of filamentation and networking of filaments is analyzed for the following phenomena: (1) formation of a "stocking'' woven by the individual filaments, from the very beginning of discharge; (2) formation of an electric current precursor on axis, in advance of the convergence of the major current sheath; (3) fine structuring of the Z-pinch's main body and halo at stagnation stage; (4) development and saturation of the magnetically driven Rayleigh-Taylor instability in the filamentary current sheath; (5) disruption of the necks in the filamentary Z pinch; (6) fine structure of "hot spots.'' (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)68701-9].