Hybrid MHD/PIC simulation of a metallic gas-puff z pinch implosion

Abstract

We present the hybrid MHD/PIC simulations of the time evolution of a bismuth metallic gas-puff z pinch in external axial magnetic field (AMF). Recent experiments with IMRI-5 generator (450 kA, 450 ns) [1] show the certain effect of an axial magnetic field on radiation energy produced during z pinch implosion. In order to perform the numerical simulation of gas puff z pinch a hybrid model was developed. The hybrid model treats the electrons as a massless fluid and ions as macroparticles. The macroparticle dynamic is calculated with the use of PIC method. Ion-ion Coulomb collision is considered with the use of MC method. The radiation transfer of bismuth plasma was accounted in the framework of P1 method. The interelectrode gap pumping by plasma of 8 μs 80 kA bismuth arc with the following plasma implosion by 450 kA / 450 ns current pulse in different external AMF was modelled. The obtained results are in a reasonable agreement with the experimental results. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.