A one-dimensional, rectangular-co-ordinate, kinetic-ion fluid-electron model with a self-consistent treatment of anomalous resistivity is used to investigate ion reflection by imploding magnetic pistons for parameters of the University of Maryland High Voltage Theta Pinch. The model explains qualitatively several experimental features not explained by a previous two-fluid model, notably the high-energy ions (Ti≃10 keV) and low-density compression (n/n0≃10), both caused by reflected ions. The model shows that ion reflection increases with initial density and ion temperature, and that fewer ions are reflected if the initial field is in the same direction as the applied piston field (parallel bias), rather than i n the opposite direction (antiparallel bias). The model also shows, for parameters considered, that the reflected ion beam is not thermalized by the ion-ion cross-field instability.
Effect of ion-neutral collisions on plasma flow in the edge region of stellarators