Establishing the physics design basis for dynamic screw pinch implosions on the Z Facility
Abstract
Magnetically imploding cylindrical metallic shells (liners) containing preheated, premagnetized fusion fuel has proven effective at producing thermonuclear plasma conditions but suffers from magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities (MRTI) that limit the attainable density, temperature, and pressure in the fuel. A novel method proposed by Schmit et al. uses a helical magnetic drive field that dynamically rotates during implosion, reducing (linear) MRTI growth via a solid liner dynamic screw pinch (SLDSP) effect. Our work explores the design features necessary for successful experimental implementation of this concept. SLDSP uses a helical drive field at the liner outer surface generated via helical return-current posts, resulting in enhanced average magnetic pressure per unit drive current, mild spatial non-uniformities in the magnetic drive pressure, and augmented static initial inductance in the pulsed-power drive circuit. These topics have been investigated using transient magnetic and magnetohydrodynamic simulations and the results have led to a credible design space for dynamic screw pinch experiments on the Z Facility.
Funded by the NNSA, Grant No. DE-NA0003864 and by the Sandia National Laboratories LDRD program, Project Nos. 195306 and 200269.- Publication:
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APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019APS..DPPTO6010S