Helical instability in MagLIF due to axial flux compression by low-density plasma

Seyler, C. E.; Martin, Matthew R.; Hamlin, N. D.

doi:10.1063/1.5028365

Helical instability in MagLIF due to axial flux compression by low-density plasma

Journal Article · Fri Jun 22 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5028365· OSTI ID:1464208

^[1]; Martin, Matthew R. ^[2]; Hamlin, N. D. ^[1]

Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The MagLIF (Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion) experiment at Sandia National Labs is one of the three main approaches to inertial confinement fusion. Radiographic measurements of the imploding liner have shown helical structuring that was not included in MagLIF scaling calculations but that could fundamentally change the viability of the approach. We present the first MagLIF linear dynamics simulations, using extended magnetohydrodynamical (XMHD) as well as standard MHD modeling, that reproduce these helical structures, thus enabling a physical understanding of their origin and development. Specifically, it is found that low-density plasma from the simulated power flow surfaces can compress the axial flux in the region surrounding the liner, leading to a strong layer of axial flux on the liner. The strong axial magnetic field on the liner imposes helical magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor perturbations into the imploding liner. A detailed comparison of XMHD and MHD modeling shows that there are defects in the MHD treatment of low-density plasma dynamics that are remedied by inclusion of the Hall term that is included in our XMHD model. In order to obtain fair agreement between XMHD and MHD, great care must be taken in the implementation of the numerics, especially for MHD. Even with a careful treatment of low-density plasma, MHD exhibits significant shortcomings that emphasize the importance of using XMHD modeling in pulsed-power driven high-energy-density experiments. As a result, the present results may explain why past MHD modeling efforts have failed to produce the helical structuring without initially imposing helical perturbations.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1464208

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1456307
OSTI ID: 1499665

Report Number(s):: SAND--2018-8579J; 666760

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 25; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor instability in an elastic finite-width medium overlying an ideal fluid Piriz, S. A.; Piriz, A. R.; Tahir, N. A. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 867 https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2019.193	journal	April 2019
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Magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor instability in an elastic finite-width medium overlying an ideal fluid Piriz, S. A.; Piriz, A. R.; Tahir, N. A. GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung, GSI, Darmstadt https://doi.org/10.15120/gsi-2019-00585	text	January 2019

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