Fully Parallel MHD Stability Code

Numerical simulations of fusion plasmas is an important component of Fusion Energy Sciences program used in the design, operation and performance assessment of existing and proposed fusion experiments. Numerical stability analysis of plasma equilibrium is one of the most important steps in evaluating feasibility of different plasma confinement approaches. An efficient numerical Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability analysis tool of axisymmetric equilibria is required for an accurate analysis of plasma confinement. FAR-TECH, Inc. proposes to parallelize code MARS, to extend its capabilities and to significantly improve its performance. MARS calculates eigenmodes in axisymmetric toroidal equilibria within MHD kinetic plasma models. A feasibility study of parallelization of the MARS code was performed in Phase I. MARS eigenvalue solver was parallelized by repeating present MARS algorithm using parallel libraries and procedures. Significant performance improvement of the parallelized solver was demonstrated ensuring a significant performance improvement of the proposed parallelized MARS code. The goal of the Phase II project is to develop a fully parallel version of MARS in a package with an integrated equilibrium code. Our final product will be designed as a user friendly numerical tool including a graphical user interface, comprehensive post processing and a user manual. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The code will be used in nuclear fusion research institutions in the design and performance assessment of existing and proposed fusion experiments. It will help to expand the knowledge base of plasma confinement in different regimes. The main public benefit of the project is the availability of an efficient tool which will be used in creation of safe, clean and economical energy source based on nuclear fusion.