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Interfacial Stability of Converging Plasma Jets for Magnetized Target FusionThe merging of a spherical distribution of plasma jets to dynamically form a gaseous liner has been proposed for use in magnetized target fusion propulsion. In this paper, a study is made of the interfacial stability of the interaction of these jets. Specifically, the Orr-Sommerfeld equation is integrated to obtain the growth rate of a perturbation to the primary flow at the interface between the colliding jets. The analysis lead to an estimate on the tolerances on the relative flow velocities of the merging plasma jets to form a stable, imploding liner. The results show that during the merging of the jets to form a liner and before contact with the target plasma the growth of the perturbed flow at the jet interface is not likely to destabilize the liner. These data suggest that, as far as the stability of the interface between the merging jets is concerned, the formation of liner can withstand velocity variation up to 50% between the neighboring jets over the density and temperature ranges investigated.
Document ID
20010021320
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Cassibry, J. T.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Thio, Y. C. F.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Wu, S. T.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Rodgers, Stephen L.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Technologies Applications
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Country: United States
Start Date: February 11, 2001
End Date: February 14, 2001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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