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

该奖项是为了响应提交给NSF/DoE基础等离子体科学与工程合作伙伴关系NSF 08-589联合招标的提案。该奖项提供资金，以支持本科生参与整体研究工作，这是由美国能源部根据合同密歇根州单独资助（科学报告#09ER55047）。这项研究是一个控制研究的磁瑞利-泰勒不稳定性（MRT）薄箔，驱动的兆安培线性Transformer驱动器（LTD），最近在研究人员的实验室。该项目涉及理论，模拟和实验，其中MRT标度律将被探索。该LTD致力于物理实验，这些实验由学生在教师的密切监督下设计和运行。相当多的主题将在未探索的领域，包括性能和表征的国家的最先进的有限责任公司驱动动态负载。这项研究将包括MRT现象学的发展，这是普遍存在的磁化靶聚变，和状态方程的研究，使用飞片或等熵压缩技术。拟议的研究处于高能量密度等离子体物理学的前沿。箔可能是必要的，以实现所需的质量为高电流x射线源，和拟议的研究解决了最基本的物理问题。NSF每年额外提供的5,000美元资金将允许更多的学生参与这项研究。具体来说，额外的资金包括一个本科生 参与这项研究。还包括学生参加技术会议（APS-DPP和IEEE等离子体科学国际会议）的资金。这类学生 旅行经验对学生了解其他研究和开始与其他科学家建立联系很重要。

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.