Comparison of Monte Carlo and fluid dynamics simulations of gas flow for plasma radiation source nozzles

Summary form only given, as follows. The Decade radiation simulator will use a Plasma Radiation Source (PRS) to provide the soft x-ray environment for DoD Nuclear Weapons Effects Testing requirements. We have made comparisons of two very different approaches to the modeling of gas flow for nozzles used in PRS z-pinches. Time-dependent, 2-D numerical simulations were performed of the gas flow through various double shell PRS nozzles intended for use on Decade. We used a Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) code and a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code for this work. The results of the calculations are presented and correlated with interferometry measurements of the actual gas flows.