Physics Criteria for a Subscale Plasma Liner Experiment

• Published in: Journal of fusion energy Vol. 37; no. 2-3; pp. 103 - 110
• Main Authors: Hsu, Scott C., Thio, Y. C. Francis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2018; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; Criteria; Energy; Energy Systems; Evolution; Experiments; Fluid mechanics; Force and energy; Fusion; Kinetic energy; Linings; Magneto-inertial fusion; Nuclear Energy; Nuclear Fusion; Original Research; Parameter identification; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Plasma; Plasma jets; Plasma liners; Plasma Physics; Ram pressure; Simulation; Sustainable Development; Plasma jets; Magneto-inertial fusion; Plasma liners
• ISSN: 0164-0313; 1572-9591
• DOI: 10.1007/s10894-018-0154-5

Spherically imploding plasma liners, formed by merging hypersonic plasma jets, are a proposed standoff driver to compress magnetized target plasmas to fusion conditions (Hsu et al. in IEEE Trans Plasma Sci 40:1287, 2012 ). In this paper, the parameter space and physics criteria are identified for a subscale, plasma-liner-formation experiment to provide data, e.g., on liner ram-pressure scaling and uniformity, that are relevant for addressing scientific issues of full-scale plasma liners required to achieve fusion conditions. Based on these criteria, we quantitatively estimate the minimum liner kinetic energy and mass needed, which informed the design of a subscale plasma liner experiment now under development.