Theoretical and Experimental Studies of the Magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor Instabilities

该奖项是对提交给NSF/美国能源部基础等离子体科学与工程合作伙伴关系联合征集NSF 08-589的提案的回应。该奖项为本科生参与整体研究工作提供资金，该研究工作由美国能源部根据密歇根州合同单独提供资金(科学报告#09ER55047)。这项研究是对薄箔上的磁瑞利-泰勒不稳定性(MRT)的对照研究，该不稳定性是由最近在研究人员实验室演示的兆安线性变压器驱动器(LTD)驱动的。这个项目包括理论、模拟和实验，在这些实验中将探索MRT的比例规律。该公司致力于由学生在教职员工的密切监督下设计和运营物理实验。相当多的主题将是未知的领域；包括最先进的有限公司驱动动态负载的性能和特征。这项研究将包括磁化目标聚变中普遍存在的MRT现象学的发展，以及使用飞片或等熵压缩技术的状态方程研究。拟议中的研究处于高能密度等离子体物理学的前沿。为了达到大电流X射线源所需的质量，薄片可能是必要的，而拟议的研究解决了最基本的物理问题。NSF每年额外提供的5000美元资金将允许更多的学生参与这项研究。具体来说，还包括一名本科生参与这项研究的额外资金。学生参加技术会议(APS-DPP和IEEE等离子体科学国际会议)的旅费也包括在内。这种类型的学生旅行体验对于学生了解其他研究并开始与其他科学家建立网络非常重要。

This award is made in response to a proposal submitted to and reviewed under the NSF/DoE Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering joint solicitation NSF 08-589. The award provides funds to support undergraduate participation in the overall research effort, which is being funded separately by the DoE under contract Michigan (Science report #09ER55047). This research is a controlled study of the Magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability (MRT) on thin foils, driven by the mega-ampere linear transformer driver (LTD) that was recently demonstrated in the Investigators' laboratory. This project involves theory, simulations, and experiments in which MRT scaling laws will be explored. This LTD is dedicated to physics experiments which are being designed and run by students, under close supervision of the faculty. Quite a few of the topics will be in unexplored territory; including the performance and characterization of the state-of-the-art LTD driving dynamical loads. This research will include the development of phenomenology of MRT that is ubiquitous in magnetized target fusion, and equation-of-state studies using flyer plates or isentropic compression techniques. The proposed studies are at the forefront of high-energy density plasma physics. Foils might be necessary to achieve the required mass for high current x-ray sources, and the proposed study addresses the most fundamental physics issues. The additional $5,000 per year funding from NSF will permit increased student involvement in this research. Specifically, additional funding is included for an undergraduate student to participate in this research. Funding for student travel to technical conferences (APS-DPP and IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science) is also included. This type of student travel experience is important for students to learn about other research and to begin to network with other scientists.