Using Magneto-Hydrodynamic and High Magnetic Field Experiments to Validate Modern Multi-Physics Codes that Simulate Extreme Conditions

Abstract

Understanding the interaction of high magnetic fields with metal conductors, especially in dynamic situations where parts of the conductor may ohmically heat, change state, move, undergo complex hydro-dynamic behavior, ionize, or produce surface vapor or plasma has been one traditional emphasis for the Megagauss community. A moving (imploding) cylindrical liner used for flux compression, plasma compression, and constitutive properties or shock physics experiments is one application where this detailed understanding of fields and materials is important. Cylindrical liner compression experiments, enabled by pulsed power technology and the resulting “megagauss” fields can challenge the models in modern multi-physics codes, and the validation of these models within their related code framework becomes an important application for the technology developed by the Megagauss community.