Progress on the Godzilla Gigawatt MPD Plasma Accelerator and Nozzle for Fusion Propulsion Simulations

Abstract

Extensive human exploration and development of space requires propulsion systems that can provide both high thrust-to-weight ratio and high specific impulse. Fusion propulsion is one of the enabling technologies considered for application in such missions. A critical and common element to many fusion propulsion concepts is the expansion of the fusion-grade plasma through a magnetic nozzle. Efforts to evaluate this essential component of a fusion propulsion system began a few years ago at The Ohio State University as part of a project sponsored by the NASA Glenn Research Center. The university houses Godzilla, a gigawatt-level, 1.8megajoule pulseline that can power an acceleration sys tem cons i s t ing (p r imar i ly ) o f a magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) source and two magnet coils. The MPD source is designed to deliver hypersonic plasma flow to a magnetic-diffuser section for compression to a nearly stagnant state after passage through the converging-diverging guide field. The stagnated plasma will then be accelerated to supersonic speeds through a second magnet coil. The full effort encompasses both computational and experimental approaches to this device. INTRODUCTION