Abstract.  The plasma parameters in a fiber initiated dense theta-pinch driven by an annular finite-thickness gas-puff Z-pinch are studied. The dynamics of such plasma has been described using the Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model along-with the power losses to the electrodes. Numerical results are compared with results of snow-plow model. Our results demonstrate that the thermonuclear fusion parameters can be achieved for a dense $\theta $-pinch Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) fiber plasma for an optimum choice of shell thickness. The relevance of this kind of study is the possible use of gas-liner and staged pinches as an alternative source of thermonuclear fusion.

We have observed that the minimum fiber radius for the MHD model reaches later than the Snowplow model but it gains deeper compression. The value of number density in MHD model is approximately 1600 times the initial density and this compression is achieved in the nsec time scale which fulfills the n tau criterion. The peak temperature is 130 keV which is more than sufficient for the fusion reaction to take place. We have plotted the results of snowplow model for the same initial parameters. The value of number density in snowplow model is approximately 700 times the initial density and the peak temperature is 40 keV. Though in both the cases n tau criterion is satisfied however results from MHD model are more reliable. From our simulation results we may conclude that the staged pinch device can be used as a potential candidate for controlled thermonuclear fusion.