Reply To: Computational resources available from the DOE

[asymmetric_implosion]

The purpose of the axial field per Slutz’s original paper is to limit Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities during implosion and to confine pre-heated electrons. The instability arises due to a light fluid, the magnetic field, pressing on a heavy fluid, the plasma or a metal can. The axial field is compressed which changes the radial implosion velocity profile. The other consideration for the MagLif is to preheat the fuel to 100 eV with a laser.

The helical electrodes are an old idea but they have problems. The biggest challenge is forcing the plasma to stay connected to the electrodes. If you build a helical electrode the plasma current is still radial with an azimuthal field. The bulk of the force is still in the axial direction. The force will push the plasma along the helix and it may skip the valley and jump to the next hill in the helix. The initial axial field is the best way to add some angular momentum to the plasma.