A Plasma Jet Merging Simulation Tool for Creation of Warm and Hot Dense Matter

The merging of plasma jets to form plasma shells could provide an attractive method of creating the voluminous amount of Warm and Hot Dense Matter (WDM) needed for inertial fusion. To support this concept, a numerical tool is needed to model the formation of a plasma liner by merging jets and the inter-penetration of the liner with the magnetized plasma. This project will develop a comprehensive simulation tool to study the merging of discrete plasma jets. In particular, a three-dimensional (3-D), hybrid, fluid-like, particle numerical code will be written. The code will include parallel computing capability and features that are easy to use and maintain. Phase I will perform numerical simulations of merging jets, which will address plasma liner formation and stability. The simulations will examine the details of merging jet dynamics, including the conditions of the density and velocity that are necessary to form a liner. Finally, upgrades for the code will be identified for further study in Phase II. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The simulation tool should play a significant role in the development of the plasma-jet-plasma-liner concept. Furthermore, the tool would represent an advance in the state of the art of 3D plasma modeling for a variety of industrial applications, including materials processing, dense plasma sources, radiation sources, plasma thrusters for space applications, and pulsed power. Computational services could be provided to the industries involved in these applications.