Computational Determination of Diagnostic Signatures for Deleterious Effects in Liner Compression of Field Reversed Configurations

The understanding of high-energy-density states is essential to the achievement of inertial fusion energy. Over the next three to five years, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the U. S. Air Force Research Laboratory will attempt to use an imploding solid liner to achieve magnetic fields more than a million times that of the Earth and plasma pressures of one million atmospheres. These high energy density states will be created in a cylindrical geometry with axial diagnostic to facilitate the examination and study of the transport of plasma impurities and thermal losses under these conditions. This project will develop multi-dimensional computational magnetohydrodynamic models to determine the diagnostic signatures of potential deleterious effects in these experiments. These adverse effects include enhanced radiation from impurities, enhanced transport, and wall contact from rotational instability. By recognizing the causes of poor performance and assisting in their correction, the computational models will hasten the success of the plasma compression. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the application to inertial fusion reactors, the models and associated expertise should find use in the support of other high-magnetic-field pulsed-power plasma programs.