A Computational Tool for Studying the Merging of Plasma Jets to Create Warm and Hot Dense Matter

78693S The merging of plasma jets to form converging plasma shells is a potentially attractive method of creating a voluminous amount of Warm and Hot Dense Matter (WDM), which may be magnetized. The concept consists of several important areas of physics: the high speed plasma jets themselves, plasma liner formation by merging jets, and the inter-penetration of the liner with a magnetized plasma. This project will develop a comprehensive simulation tool to study the interaction of discrete plasma jets for applications to high energy density physics (HEDP). Utilizing existing codes, a three-dimensional hybrid fluid-particle numerical code will be written with parallel computing capability, along with easy-to-use-and-maintain features. Phase I will investigate the conditions of the plasma liner formation and the dynamics of the liner, including instabilities. The required density and velocity to form a liner, along with the required spatial and temporal precision for uniform implosion to the target plasma, will be determined. The LSP code, with analytically known dynamics for two merging jets, will be applied to three merging jets. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The simulation tool should play a significant role in the development of the plasma-jets/plasma-liner concept for creating Warm and Hot Dense Matter for High Energy Density Physics studies. Furthermore, the tool should have application to a variety of industrial applications, including materials processing, dense plasma source, radiation sources, plasma thrusters for space applications, closing and opening switches, and pulsed power.