Computational Simulation of High Energy Density Plasmas

Plasmas with embedded high magnetic fields are less subject to thermal conduction losses and can therefore reach higher temperatures under compression. This effect offers a path to generation of neutrons by thermal collisions known as magnetized target fusion (MTF). Now also referred to as magneto-inertial fusion (MlF). Since MTF allows the use of slower drivers for compress ion, it should lower the cost of achieving intense neutron pulses. NumerEx's effort under this Task Order has focused on two different concepts for MTF. The first approach is the generation, stagnation, and compression of ultrahigh speed plasma (UHP) flow; the second is formation, translation, capture, and compression of a field-reversed magnetized plasma configuration (FRC). In both concepts, the ultimate compression is by an imploding liner driven by a fast capacitor bank. Here we will describe our achievements in simulating those two concepts. The first section will focus on simulations of the UHP target liner compression, and the second, on simulations of FRC compression.