The Influence of Non-Ideal Effects on Instablility an Plasma Dynamics of Current Carrying Plasma

The instability, turbulence, and transport of current-carrying plasmas are a basic problem for fusion energy science. One especially important and interesting challenge is the understanding and control of unity-beta plasma, for which the plasma pressure is comparable to the magnetic field pressure. This project will perform versatile, three-dimensional (3D) hybrid simulations of the stability of a current-carrying Z-pinch plasma and the propagation of plasma jets across a magnetic field. Then, the influence of non-ideal MHD effects on these processes will be investigated. To accomplish this goal, the extended 3D hybrid code will include ion-ion collisions and an adaptive meshless field solver. The result will be a comprehensive numerical tool for the investigation of linear and nonlinear processes in current-carrying plasmas. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The study and development of Z-pinches is one of the most rapidly advancing areas of plasma physics. Z-pinches are finding a wide array of applications ¿ from x-ray sources for biomedical microscopy and defense, to the generation of strong magnetic fields for laboratory astrophysical experiments; and from the stripping and focusing of ions in accelerators to the production of energetic charged particles for the modification of materials.