Fluid-kinetic hybrid model for studying global stability of fusion plasmas

What is it about?

A reduced physics plasma model was added to the open-source particle-in-cell code, WarpX (which was originally developed under the DOE's Exascale Computing Project). This model allows computational researchers to step over detailed electron physics and focus on the evolution of ions, which ultimately determine the macroscopic evolution of plasmas in magnetically confined fusion reactors. Specifically, this model is appropriate for simulating the macroscopic plasma evolution in systems where the plasma thermal pressure is of a similar magnitude as the magnetic pressure, a scenario that arrises in so-called field reversed configuration plasmas. The model was then used to study how kinetic ion effects impact the growth of a well known instability in field reversed configuration plasmas.

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Why is it important?

TAE Technologies, Inc. is pursuing the field reversed configuration of magnetically confined plasma for the development of commercially viable nuclear fusion power generation. Modeling of the global stability of such plasmas is vital to understanding the physics involved in these reactors as well as effectively designing next generation machines in the ongoing effort to enable fusion power.