Fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of a deuterium gas puff z pinch.
We present the first fully kinetic, collisional, and electromagnetic simulations of the complete time evolution of a deuterium gas puff z pinch. Recent experiments with 15-MA current pinches have suggested that the dominant neutron-production mechanism is thermonuclear. We observe distinct differences between the kinetic and magnetohydrodynamic simulations in the pinch evolution with the kinetic simulations producing both thermonuclear and beam-target neutrons. The kinetic approach demonstrated in this Letter represents a viable alternative for performing future plasma physics calculations.
Welch
D R
DR
Voss Scientific, LLC, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108, USA.
Rose
D V
DV
Clark
R E
RE
Mostrom
C B
CB
Stygar
W A
WA
Leeper
R J
RJ