Insights and applications of two-dimensional simulations to Z-pinch experiments
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
- University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 (United States)
A two-dimensional (2D) Eulerian radiation-magnetohydrodynamic code has been used to successfully simulate hollow metallic {ital z}-pinch experiments fielded on several facilities with a wide variety of drive conditions, time scales, and loads. The 2D simulations of these experiments reproduce important quantities of interest including the radiation pulse energy, power, and pulse width. This match is obtained through the use of an initial condition: the amplitude of a random density perturbation imposed on the initial plasma shell. The perturbations seed the development of magnetically driven Rayleigh{endash}Taylor instabilities which greatly affect the dynamics of the implosion and the resulting production of radiation. Analysis of such simulations allows insights into the physical processes by which these calculations reproduce the experimental results. As examples, the insights gained from the simulations of Sandia {open_quotes}{ital Z}{close_quotes} accelerator [R. B. Spielman {ital et al.}, Phys. Plasmas {bold 5}, 2105 (1998)] experiments have allowed for the investigation of possible physical processes which produce high powers in {open_quotes}nested array{close_quotes} implosions and high temperatures within {open_quotes}dynamic hohlraum{close_quotes} loads. Building on these insights, the 2D code has been used in designing new experiments to optimize the desired physical conditions and in interpreting the experimental results obtained. These examples and others will be discussed as well as examples of simulation results where improvement is needed and what steps are being taken to make that improvement. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 344948
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-981127--
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 6; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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