Finding the Best Uses of Imposed Magnetic Fields to Improve Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion
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Physics - Plasma physics↗
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Collective modes of three-dimensional magnetic structures: A study of target skyrmions
Three-dimensional magnetic textures present their richness not only in variety of ground state structures, but also in their dazzling collective modes. As an example, the target skyrmion, a topological spin texture with a central skyrmion and an extra concentric helical ring, has been enabled by confining a chiral magnet in a nanodisk geometry. In this work we investigate the collective spin wave modes of the target skyrmion in the external field region of -400 mT to 400 mT. Through micromagnetic simulations we reproduced three major phases of the target skyrmion, and derived resonance modes at varying external magnetic field by the power spectral density study. All typical modes were resolved in terms of their dynamical snapshots in temporal domain and the corresponding spatial Fourier transformations. Some modes are shown to behave similarly in-plane but differently out-of-plane, and vice versa. This suggests, on a broader scope, that both responses will be necessary to fully characterize collective modes of three-dimensional spin textures.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Coordinating Garbage Collectionfor Arrays of Solid-State Drives
The primary goal of the extreme-scale plasma turbulence studies described in this article is to gain new insights on confinement scaling in magnetic fusion systems by using powerful, world-class supercomputers to carry out simulations with unprecedented resolution and temporal duration. New insights have been gained on the key question of how the turbulent transport of thermal energy and particles in the plasma and the associated confinement scale from present-generation devices to much larger ITER-size plasmas. In particular, new results from large-scale simulation studies have demonstrated that improvement in confinement as devices grow larger is far more gradual, with significantly lower loss rates than less-powerful computer simulations have indicated in research carried out over the past decade.
Computer Science↗
The role of higher-order modes on the electromagnetic whistler-cyclotron wave fluctuations of thermal and non-thermal plasmas
Two fundamental challenging problems of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas are the understanding of the relaxation of a collisionless plasmas with nearly isotropic velocity distribution functions and the resultant state of nearly equipartition energy density with electromagnetic plasma turbulence. Here, we present the results of a study which shows the role that higher-order-modes play in limiting the electromagnetic whistler-like fluctuations in a thermal and non-thermal plasma. Our main results show that for a thermal plasma the magnetic fluctuations are confined by regions that are bounded by the least-damped higher order modes. We further show that the zone where the whistler-cyclotron normal modes merges the electromagnetic fluctuations shifts to longer wavelengths as the β{sub e} increases. This merging zone has been interpreted as the beginning of the region where the whistler-cyclotron waves losses their identity and become heavily damped while merging with the fluctuations. Our results further indicate that in the case of nonthermal plasmas, the higher-order modes do not confine the fluctuations due to the effective higher-temperature effects and the excess of suprathermal plasma particles. The analysis presented here considers the second-order theory of fluctuations and the dispersion relation of weakly transverse fluctuations, with wave vectors parallel to the uniform background magnetic field, in a finite temperature isotropic bi-Maxwellian and Tsallis-kappa-like magnetized electron–proton plasma. Our results indicate that the spontaneously emitted electromagnetic fluctuations are in fact enhanced over these quasi modes suggesting that such modes play an important role in the emission and absorption of electromagnetic fluctuations in thermal or quasi-thermal plasmas.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
The potential of imposed magnetic fields for enhancing ignition probability and fusion energy yield in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion
We examine the potential that imposed magnetic fields of tens of Tesla that increase to greater than 10 kT (100 MGauss) under implosion compression may relax the conditions required for ignition and propagating burn in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets. This may allow the attainment of ignition, or at least significant fusion energy yields, in presently performing ICF targets on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) that today are sub-marginal for thermonuclear burn through adverse hydrodynamic conditions at stagnation [Doeppner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 055001 (2015)]. Results of detailed two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic-burn simulations applied to NIF capsule implosions with low-mode shape perturbations and residual kinetic energy loss indicate that such compressed fields may increase the probability for ignition through range reduction of fusion alpha particles, suppression of electron heat conduction, and potential stabilization of higher-mode Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. Optimum initial applied fields are found to be around 50 T. Given that the full plasma structure at capsule stagnation may be governed by three-dimensional resistive magneto-hydrodynamics, the formation of closed magnetic field lines might further augment ignition prospects. Experiments are now required to further assess the potential of applied magnetic fields to ICF ignition and burn on NIF.
Perkins, L. J.↗
Confirmation of the topology of the Wendelstein 7-X magnetic field to better than 1:100,000
Fusion energy research has in the past 40 years focused primarily on the tokamak concept, but recent advances in plasma theory and computational power have led to renewed interest in stellarators. The largest and most sophisticated stellarator in the world, Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), has just started operation, with the aim to show that the earlier weaknesses of this concept have been addressed successfully, and that the intrinsic advantages of the concept persist, also at plasma parameters approaching those of a future fusion power plant. Here we show the first physics results, obtained before plasma operation: that the carefully tailored topology of nested magnetic surfaces needed for good confinement is realized, and that the measured deviations are smaller than one part in 100,000. Lastly, this is a significant step forward in stellarator research, since it shows that the complicated and delicate magnetic topology can be created and verified with the required accuracy.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Parsec-scale Obscuring Accretion Disk with Large-scale Magnetic Field in AGNs
A magnetic field dragged from the galactic disk, along with inflowing gas, can provide vertical support to the geometrically and optically thick pc-scale torus in AGNs. Using the Soloviev solution initially developed for Tokamaks, we derive an analytical model for a rotating torus that is supported and confined by a magnetic field. We further perform three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic simulations of X-ray irradiated, pc-scale, magnetized tori. We follow the time evolution and compare models that adopt initial conditions derived from our analytic model with simulations in which the initial magnetic flux is entirely contained within the gas torus. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the initial conditions based on the analytic solution produce a longer-lived torus that produces obscuration that is generally consistent with observed constraints.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DETECTION OF PLASMA FLUCTUATIONS IN WHITE-LIGHT IMAGES OF THE OUTER SOLAR CORONA: INVESTIGATION OF THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL EVOLUTION
This work focuses on the first results from the identification and characterization of periodic plasma density fluctuations in the outer corona, observed in STEREO-A COR1 white-light image time series. A two-dimensional reconstruction of the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of the coronal fluctuation power has been performed over the whole plane of the sky, from 1.4 to 4.0 R{sub Sun }. The adopted diagnostic tool is based on wavelet transforms. This technique, with respect to the standard Fourier analysis, has the advantage of localizing non-persistent fluctuating features and exploring variations of the relating wavelet power in both space and time. The map of the variance of the coronal brightness clearly outlines intermittent spatially coherent fluctuating features, localized along, or adjacent to, the strongest magnetic field lines. In most cases, they do not correspond to the visible coronal structures in the brightness maps. The results obtained provide a scenario in which the solar corona shows quasi-periodic, non-stationary density variations characterized by a wide range of temporal and spatial scales and strongly confined by the magnetic field topology. In addition, structures fluctuating with larger power are larger in size and evolve more slowly. The characteristic periodicities of the fluctuations are comparable to their lifetimes. This suggests that plasma fluctuations lasting only one or two wave periods and initially characterized by a single dominant periodicity either rapidly decay into a turbulent mixed flow via nonlinear interactions with other plasma modes, or they are damped by thermal conduction. The periodic non-stationary coronal fluctuations outlined by the closed field lines at low and mid latitudes might be associated with the existence of slow standing magneto-acoustic waves excited by the convective supergranular motion. The fluctuating ray-like structures observed along open field lines appear to be linked either to the intermittent nature of the processes underlying the generation of magnetic reconnection in the polar regions or to the oscillatory transverse displacements of the coronal ray itself.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Runaway electron transport in stochastic toroidal magnetic fields
Here, we study the transport and confinement properties of runaway electrons (RE) in the presence of magnetic fields with perturbations producing different levels of stochasticity. We use Kinetic Orbit Runaway Electron Code (KORC) [Carbajal et al. , Phys. Plasmas 24, 042512 (2017) and del-Castillo-Negrete et al. , Phys. Plasmas 25, 056104 (2018)] for simulating the full-orbit (FO) and guiding-center (GC) dynamics of RE in perturbed magnetic fields that exhibit magnetic islands. We extend previous works on this problem [Wingen et al. , Nucl. Fusion 46, 941 (2006); Izzo et al. , Nucl. Fusion 51, 063032 (2011); Papp et al. , Nucl. Fusion 51, 043004 (2011); V. Izzo and P. Parks, Phys. Plasmas 24, 060705 (2017); and Sommariva et al. , Nucl. Fusion 58, 016043 (2018)] by studying in detail full-orbit effects on the RE dynamics. We quantify FO effects on RE transport by performing one-to-one comparisons between FO and GC simulations. It is found that, for the magnetic field configurations considered, GC simulations predict twice the RE losses of FO simulations for 1 MeV and four times the RE losses of FO simulations for 25 MeV. Similarly, we show how different GC and FO dynamics of RE moving around magnetic islands can be, especially in the scenario where the RE Larmor radius is on the order of the size of the magnetic island. We also study the role of rotation of the magnetic islands on RE confinement, and we find that low-frequency toroidal rotation has no observable effect on RE transport in the cases considered. These results shed some light into the potential of avoidance or mitigation mechanisms based on magnetic perturbations.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Method and apparatus to produce high specific impulse and moderate thrust from a fusion-powered rocket engine
A system and method for producing and controlling high thrust and desirable specific impulse from a continuous fusion reaction is disclosed. The resultant relatively small rocket engine will have lower cost to develop, test, and operate that the prior art, allowing spacecraft missions throughout the planetary system and beyond. The rocket engine method and system includes a reactor chamber and a heating system for heating a stable plasma to produce fusion reactions in the stable plasma. Magnets produce a magnetic field that confines the stable plasma. A fuel injection system and a propellant injection system are included. The propellant injection system injects cold propellant into a gas box at one end of the reactor chamber, where the propellant is ionized into a plasma. The propellant and fusion products are directed out of the reactor chamber through a magnetic nozzle and are detached from the magnetic field lines producing thrust.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Magnetoconductance of a hybrid quantum ring: Effects of antidot potentials
The electronic structures and two-terminal magnetoconductance of a hybrid quantum ring are studied. The backscattering due to energy-resonance is considered in the conductance calculation. The hybrid magnetic-electric quantum ring is fabricated by applying an antidot electrostatic potential in the middle of a magnetic quantum dot. Electrons are both magnetically and electrically confined in the plane. The antidot potential repelling electrons from the center of the dot plays a critical role in the energy spectra and magnetoconductance. The angular momentum transition in the energy dispersion and the magnetoconductance behavior are investigated in consideration of the antidot potential variation. Results are shown using a comparison of the results of the conventional magnetic quantum dot.
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
Unusual giant anisotropic magnetoresistance in manganite strips
Manganites have been known to exhibit giant anisotropic magnetoresistance (GAMR) near metal-insulator transition temperatures. Interestingly, we observed a second GAMR peak at lower temperatures in manganite strips fabricated from epitaxial thin films. The second low-temperature GAMR peak is highly sensitive to magnetic field and vanishes quickly upon increasing of magnetic field. We attribute the emergent GAMR behavior to spatial confinement effect on electronic phase separation in manganite strips.
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
Beam-wave interaction behavior of a 35 GHz metal PBG cavity gyrotron
The RF behavior of a 35 GHz photonic band gap (PBG) cavity gyrotron operating in TE{sub 041}-like mode has been presented to demonstrate its single mode operation capability. In this PBG cavity gyrotron, the conventional tapered cylindrical cavity is replaced by a metal PBG cavity as its RF interaction structure. The beam-wave interaction behavior has been explored using time dependent multimode nonlinear analysis as well as through 3D PIC simulation. Metal PBG cavity is treated here similar to that of a conventional cylindrical cavity for the desired mode confinement. The applied DC magnetic field profile has been considered uniform along the PBG cavity length both in analysis as well as in simulation. Electrons energy and phase along the interaction length of the PBG cavity facilitates bunching mechanism as well as energy transfer phenomena from the electron beam to the RF field. The RF output power for the TE{sub 041}-like design mode as well as nearby competing modes have been estimated and found above to 100 kW in TE{sub 041}-like mode with ∼15% efficiency. Results obtained from the analysis and the PIC simulation are found in agreement within 8% variation, and also it supports the single mode operation, as the PBG cavity does not switch into other parasitic modes in considerably large range of varying DC magnetic field, contrary to the conventional cylindrical cavity interaction structure.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Parallel Algebraic Multigrid for Fusion and Higher-Order PDEs
Multigrid methods play a key role in large-scale scientific simulation because they are among the fastest and most scalable approaches for solving the underlying sparse linear systems of equations that arise from a wide array of Partial Differential Equation (PDE) discretizations. Algebraic multigrid (AMG) is a special type of multigrid method that depends only on the description of the linear system, giving it better portability and broader applicability than geometric multigrid, as it requires no explicit knowledge of the problem geometry. Even though these methods are widely used today, there are still applications where further development is needed. In this report, we focus on PDEs with higher-order terms (e.g., fourth order), concentrating on a PDE that arises in tokamak edge plasma simulations (a tokamak is a machine that confines a plasma using magnetic fields and is believed to be the leading plasma confinement concept for future fusion power plants). General multigrid relaxes a linear system on coarser grids and reverses this process with interpolation, but standard AMG methods struggle with the aforementioned higher-order PDEs. We investigate cyclic coarsening and interpolation heuristics, as well as new iterative approximation methods of refining the solution at each grid to improve the existing multigrid approach. To this end, we ensure that these techniques are transferable to a parallelized setting with LLNL’s supercomputers.
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
Design of an arrangement of cubic magnets for a quasi-axisymmetric stellarator experiment
The usage of permanent magnets to shape the confining field of a stellarator has the potential to reduce or eliminate the need for non-planar coils. As a proof-of-concept for this idea, we have developed a procedure for designing an array of cubic permanent magnets that works in tandem with a set of toroidal-field coils to confine a stellarator plasma. All of the magnets in the design are constrained to have identical geometry and one of three polarization types in order to simplify fabrication while still producing sufficient field accuracy. We present some of the key steps leading to the design, including the geometric arrangement of the magnets around the device, the procedure for optimizing the polarizations according to three allowable magnet types, and the choice of magnet types to be used. We apply these methods to design an array of rare-Earth permanent magnets that can be paired with a set of planar toroidal-field coils to confine a quasi-axisymmetric plasma with a toroidal magnetic field strength of about 0.5 T on axis.
Hammond, Kenneth↗
Experimental inference of flux tunneling between magnetic island chains in tokamaks
We report confinement bifurcations due to flux tunneling in magnetic islands in toroidal plasmas. This occurs in 2/1 islands, triggered by decoupling of non-overlapping adjacent 5/2 islands. While subject to electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD), the temperature at the 2/1 O-point is flat before but peaks after decoupling. Here, this is shown to be due to a bifurcation from stochastic to nested magnetic structure, caused by the removal of flux tunneling through intersecting manifolds of overlapping heteroclinic tangles. 2/1 island stability correlates with coupling events in an ITER baseline scenario plasma where ECCD can not stabilize the coupled islands, showing the critical impact of flux tunneling on disruption avoidance in tokamaks.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Direct observation of ultrafast surface transport of laser-driven fast electrons in a solid target
We demonstrate rapid spread of surface ionization on a glass target excited by an intense, ultrashort laser pulse at an intensity of 3 × 10{sup 17} W cm{sup −2}. Time- and space-resolved reflectivity of the target surface indicates that the initial plasma region created by the pump pulse expands at c/7. The measured quasi-static megagauss magnetic field is found to expand in a manner very similar to that of surface ionization. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations reproduce measurements of surface ionization and magnetic fields. Both the experiment and simulation convincingly demonstrate the role of self-induced electric and magnetic fields in confining fast electrons along the target-vacuum interface.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Progress in magnet design activities for the material plasma exposure experiment
One of the critical challenges for the development of next generation fusion facilities, such as a Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) or DEMO, is the understanding of plasma material interactions (PMI). Making progress in PMI research will require integrated facilities that can provide the types of conditions that will be seen in the first wall and divertor regions of future fusion facilities. In order to meet this need, a new linear plasma facility, the Materials Plasma Exposure Experiment (MPEX), is proposed. In order to generate high ion fluence to simulate fusion divertor conditions, a steady-state plasma will be generated and confined with superconducting magnets. Finally, the on-axis fields will range from 1 to 2.5 T in order to meet the requirements of the various plasma source and heating systems. Details on the pre-conceptual design of the magnets and cryogenic system are presented.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗