ALEGRA-HEDP simulations of the dense plasma focus.

Flicker, Dawn G. ; Kueny, Christopher S. (Hewlett-Packard Company) ; Rose, David V.

关键词: A CODES;    TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS;    OPTICALLY THICK PLASMA;    PLASMA DENSITY;    PLASMA FOCUS;    COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1000284
RP-ID  :  SAND2009-6373
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1000284
Others  :  TRN: US1100079

学科分类：原子、分子光学和等离子物理

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

We have carried out 2D simulations of three dense plasma focus (DPF) devices using the ALEGRA-HEDP code and validated the results against experiments. The three devices included two Mather-type machines described by Bernard et. al. and the Tallboy device currently in operation at NSTec in North Las Vegas. We present simulation results and compare to detailed plasma measurements for one Bernard device and to current and neutron yields for all three. We also describe a new ALEGRA capability to import data from particle-in-cell calculations of initial gas breakdown, which will allow the first ever simulations of DPF operation from the beginning of the voltage discharge to the pinch phase for arbitrary operating conditions and without assumptions about the early sheath structure. The next step in understanding DPF pinch physics must be three-dimensional modeling of conditions going into the pinch, and we have just launched our first 3D simulation of the best-diagnosed Bernard device.