Theory, modeling, and validation for a range of innovative fusion concepts using high-fidelity moment-kinetic models*

As part of the ARPA-E BETHE program Virginia Tech and Princeton Plasma Physic Laboratory are designing novel theoretical and experimental tools to understand the physics of innovative fusion concepts funded by that program. In this talk we give an overview of our effort, in particular, the development of high-fidelity moment and moment-kinetic solvers to understand two mirror concepts (at University of Wisconsin and University of Maryland) as well as plasma-material interaction in Z-pinches and other pulsed machines. Many pulsed fusion machines plan to use liquid metal walls to handle high current and heat loads efficiently. Hence, we are building a test-stand to study the interaction of pulsed plasma currents with liquid metals in an effort to understand how high current pulses disturb the liquid surface and the amount of high-Z material that can potentially enter the main plasma. The liquid metal experiments are backed with multi-phase resistive MHD simulations to provide a validated tool to understand plasma-liquid-metal interaction in different fusion concepts.