Date of Award
6-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Applied Physics
Department
Department of Engineering Physics
First Advisor
John W. McClory, PhD
Abstract
Plasma Jet Driven Magnetoinertial Fusion (PJMIF) requires high velocity heavy ion drivers in order to compress a magnetized target to fusion conditions. Previous work with heavy ion drivers has revealed sub-par accelerations due to plasma instabilities; thus, it is necessary to investigate new methods of heavy ion plasma acceleration. One such method is Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters. Past studies of these thrusters have been conducted at an initial temperature at or below the energy of full ionization. Here MPD thrusters are investigated using a Godunov type MHD solver with a Harten-Lax van Leer-D (HLLD) flux solving scheme assuming the plasma is injected into the MPD thruster fully ionized.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-ENP-MS-21-J-025
DTIC Accession Number
AD1144042
Recommended Citation
Brown, Patrick M., "One Dimensional Study of Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters for a Potential New Class of Heavy Ion Drivers for Plasma Jet Driven Magnetoinertial Fusion" (2021). Theses and Dissertations. 5059.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/5059