A Magnetic Flux Compression Platform on MAIZE for Investigating Helical Instability Modes

The Magneto Rayleigh-Taylor instability (MRTI) is of great relevance for magnetized, imploding z-pinch configurations such as the magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) concept being studied on the Z facility at Sandia National Laboratories [1]. In MagLIF, MRTI degrades the assembly and confinement of thermonuclear fuel. A key component to MagLIF experiments is the pre-embedded axial magnetic field, which reduces thermal conduction losses during the implosion and traps charged fusion products at stagnation to enhance the fusion yield in the fuel. This axial field modifies MRTI, generating helical plasma striations on the liner surface. The observed pitch angle of the helices is significantly larger than anticipated. Amplification of axial magnetic field, from flux compression of a low-density plasma (LDP), is hypothesized as an explanation for the large pitch angle. The LDP is suspected to be generated from the high current densities on the transmission lines leading up to the liner.