MHD simulation on magnetic compression of field reversed configurations with NIMROD

Abstract

Magnetic compression has long been proposed a promising method for plasma heating in a field reversed configuration (FRC). However, it remains a challenge to fully understand the physical mechanisms underlying the compression process, due to its highly dynamic nature beyond the one-dimensional (1D) adiabatic theory model [R. L. Spencer et al., Phys. Fluids 26, 1564 (1983)]. In this work, magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations on the magnetic compression of FRCs using the NIMROD code [C. R. Sovinec et al., J. Comput. Phys. 195, 355 (2004)] and their comparisons with the 1D theory have been performed. The effects of the assumptions of the theory on the compression process have been explored, and the detailed profiles of the FRC during compression have been investigated. The pressure evolution agrees with the theoretical prediction under various initial conditions. The axial contraction of the FRC can be affected by the initial density profile and the ramping rate of the compression magnetic field, but the theoretical predictions on the FRC's length in general and the relation r s=√2 r o in particular hold approximately well during the whole compression process, where r s is the major radius of FRC separatrix and r o is that of the magnetic axis. The evolutions of the density and temperature can be affected significantly by the initial equilibrium profile and the ramping rate of the compression magnetic field. During the compression, the major radius of the FRC is another parameter that is susceptible to the ramping rate of the compression field. Basically, for the same magnetic compression ratio, the peak density is higher and the FRC's radius r s is smaller than the theoretical predictions.

A New Device Concept of Magnetic Confinement Deuterium–Deuterium Fusion

“…3). [11] Furthermore, if the kinetic effects of thermal ions and externally injected fast particles are fully considered in the hybrid kinetic MHD model, the FLR effects of thermal ions and fast particles are expected to completely suppress the primary MHD instabilities in the FRC. The C-2 experiments have reported the experimental evidence of suppressing the MHD instability using neutral beam injection, which has also been confirmed in NIMROD simulations.…”