High-Fidelity Modeling of High-Energy Density Plasma Systems for Fusion Propulsion

High energy density plasmas (i.e. ionized gases) have been a crucial topic of interest across many fields, involving natural phenomenaand engineering devices. National defense technologies operate using high power microwave systems, plasma confinement isimperative to the success of the fusion community, and many next-generation spacecraft thruster designs rely on high-energy densityplasmas to generate thrust. In particular, spacecraft thruster technologies in use today operate at orders of magnitude lower specificimpulse or thrust than can be achieved by high-energy density, fusion-capable plasma based designs.Understanding instabilities and turbulence is the key to gaining control over such plasmas that enable the development of thesefuture propulsion systems. As our ability to predictively model and optimize turbulent phenomena in high energy density plasmas isparamount to the stability and eventual success of many pioneering technologies, I propose to investigate the dynamics and stabilityof high-energy plasma systems using multi-fluid plasma models. This proposal can be divided into two sections, Theoretical andComputational work at the start of my Ph.D. program, and Validation against experiments, once there are reasonable results. Keygoals include developing code which incorporates as much physics and complexity as is computationally feasible, and modelingturbulent phenomena in high energy plasmas. This will then be compared to published experimental data to obtain a greaterfundamental understanding of the physics, and then will ideally be used to predictively model these and future devices. This willdevelop our theory of, and our ability to proficiently model complex, turbulent behavior in high energy plasma systems like FRC,PuFF and Z-Pinch experiments which have been proposed as candidates for fusion-based spacecraft propulsion.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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