Analysis of inductively driven liners for the generation of megagauss magnetic fields

Abstract

A process for achieving megagauss fields to reach fusion gain conditions based on the compression of a Field Reversed Configuration plasmoid (FRC) is analyzed. The essential element for achieving this end is the inductively driven implosion of several thin bands of metal, initially at large radius, to achieve the 3D convergence and mass required. To understand the issues involved with this approach, as well as design an experimental test, a 1D analytical model was developed and 3D ANSYS Explicit Dynamics® of the liner implosion were carried out. The inductive coupling and drive efficiency of the compression for a single liner was evaluated with the one dimensional model which included the key circuit, magnetic field and liner parameters. The model was then used to characterize the liner motion as a function of liner mass, resistivity, stored energy, coil voltage and initial magnetic field. The stability and structural behavior of multiple liners was studied with the 3D ANSYS code. Techniques for controlling liner bucking as well as liner rotation for Rayleigh-Taylor stability were formulated and examined with these codes.