2-D MHD Simulation of a Magnetized Target Fusion Configuration with a Z-Pinch Target Plasma

Summary form only given. We have developed a time-dependent, two-dimensional computational model of a magnetized target fusion (MTF) configuration. This consists of an electromagnetically imploded cylindrical metallic liner compressing a target Z-pinch deuterium plasma. A two-dimensional (2-D) Eulerian MHD code has been developed for this purpose. The multimaterial hydrodynamic calculations use the formalism of the 2DE code. We use a mixed equation of state for the aluminum liner and plasma, using the methodology used in [C.L. Mader, Numerical Modeling of Explosives and Propellants, 2^nd ed., CRC Press (1998)]. The 2-D magnetic field diffusion equation in cylindrical geometry has been solved using the alternate direction implicit (ADI) scheme. The electrical resistivity of the aluminum, ranging from solid to plasma states, is calculated using the expressions used in [T.J. Burgess, 4^th international Conference on Megagauss Magnetic Field Generation and Related Topics, p. 307 (1986)], while Spitzer resistivity is assumed for the plasma. Transport coefficients in the magnetized plasma are assumed to follow the classical expressions of Braginskii. Individual modules in the code, such as the hydrodynamic equation solver, magnetic field diffusion and electrical resistivity for aluminum, have been validated separately. Simulations have then been performed for parameter sets around the optimized configurations determined by the zero-dimensional study of [J.E. Dahlin et al., Physica Scripta, vol. 70, p. 310 (2004)]. This includes circuit parameters, initial plasma parameters and liner dimensions. In this paper, we present a comparison of our results with the zero-D calculations of [J.E. Dahlin et al., Physica Scripta, vol. 70, p. 310, (2004)], followed by an analysis of the detailed 2-D evolution of the plasma