Visible to the public Three-Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Modeling of Auto-Magnetizing Liner Implosions

TitleThree-Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Modeling of Auto-Magnetizing Liner Implosions
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsShipley, G. A., Awe, T. J., Jennings, C. A., Hutsel, B. T.
Conference Name2021 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS)
Date Publishedsep
Keywordscomposability, confinement, Data models, Flashover, Magnetohydrodynamics, Plasmas, privacy, Production, Protocols, pubcrawl, resilience, Resiliency, Solid modeling
AbstractAuto-magnetizing (AutoMag) liners 1 have demonstrated strong precompressed axial magnetic field production (\textbackslashtextgreater100 T) and remarkable cylindrical implosion uniformity during experiments 2 on the Z accelerator. However, both axial field production and implosion uniformity require further optimization to support use of AutoMag targets in magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) experiments. Recent experimental study on the Mykonos accelerator has provided data on the initiation and evolution of dielectric flashover in AutoMag targets; these results have directly enabled advancement of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modeling protocols used to simulate AutoMag liner implosions. Using these modeling protocols, we executed three-dimensional MHD simulations focused on improving AutoMag target designs, specifically seeking to optimize axial magnetic field production and enhance cylindrical implosion uniformity for MagLIF. By eliminating the previously used driver current prepulse and reducing the helical gap widths in AutoMag liners, simulations indicate that the optimal 30-50 T range of precompressed axial magnetic field for MagLIF can be accomplished concurrently with improved cylindrical implosion uniformity, thereby enabling an optimally premagnetized magneto-inertial fusion implosion with high cylindrical uniformity.
DOI10.1109/ICOPS36761.2021.9588471
Citation Keyshipley_three-dimensional_2021