Experimental detection of the signs of a Coulomb explosion in micropinch plasma

A flow of ions with energies of about 3 MeV propagating in the direction perpendicular to the symmetry axis of discharge has been detected in high-current low inductance vacuum spark. Estimations show that the measured ion energies quite well correspond to the value that can be achieved as a result of “Coulomb explosion” of the waist of a plasma channel of discharge current at the stage preceding its radiation compression.