Fusion in a Staged -Pinch

The implosion of a liner-on-target Z-pinch is simulated for fusion. The simulation code is the 2-1/2-D, MACH2 MHD code and the driver parameters are τ_1/4 ~ 130 ns, I_peak ~ 22 MA, and E_stored ~ 22 MJ. Simulations are run for a Staged Z-pinch, configured as an unmagnetized, silver-plasma liner imploding onto a deuterium-tritium plasma target. Magnetosonic-shocks play a decisive role in the attainment of fusion: preheating the target plasma, producing a stagnation-shock front at the liner-target interface, and transporting current and magnetic field that is flux-compressed by liner inertia. The target implosion is magneto-inertial and stable, up to the last of couple of nanoseconds when the interface decelerates and target-hot spots form, leading to ignition, with a 100-MJ yield, ~5 × E_stored. A simulation is also provided for MagLIF, configured as a magnetized Beryllium liner → Deuterium target implosion; these results compare favorably with recent measurements.