Molecular dynamics of flows in the Knudsen regime

Novel technological applications often involve fluid flows in the Knudsen regime in which the mean free path is comparable to the system size. We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the transition between the dilute gas and the dense fluid regimes as the fluid density is increased.Comment: REVTeX, 15 pages, 4 EPS figures, to appear in Physica

Particle interactions with single or multiple 3D solar reconnecting current sheets

The acceleration of charged particles (electrons and protons) in flaring solar active regions is analyzed by numerical experiments. The acceleration is modelled as a stochastic process taking place by the interaction of the particles with local magnetic reconnection sites via multiple steps. Two types of local reconnecting topologies are studied: the Harris-type and the X-point. A formula for the maximum kinetic energy gain in a Harris-type current sheet, found in a previous work of ours, fits well the numerical data for a single step of the process. A generalization is then given approximating the kinetic energy gain through an X-point. In the case of the multiple step process, in both topologies the particles' kinetic energy distribution is found to acquire a practically invariant form after a small number of steps. This tendency is interpreted theoretically. Other characteristics of the acceleration process are given, such as the mean acceleration time and the pitch angle distributions of the particles.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, Solar Physics, in pres

Sustainment dynamo reexamined: nonlocal electrical conductivity of plasma in a stochastic magnetic field

The plasma dynamo is both an intriguing and a practical concept. The intrigue derives from attempting to explain naturally occurring and man-made plasmas whose strong field-aligned currents j/sub parallel/ apparently disobey the most naive Ohm's law j/sub parallel/ = sigma/sub parallel/E/sub parallel/. The practical importance derives from the dynamo's role both in formation and in sustainment of reversed-field pinch (RFP) and Spheromak fusion plasmas. We will examine certain features of the documented quasi-steady discharges on ZT-40M, and RFP in apparent need of a sustainment dynamo. We will show that the tail electrons (which carry j/sub parallel/) are probably wandering (along stochastic B Vector-field lines) over much of the minor radius in one mean-free-path

Stable heating and burn simulations of a reversed-field pinch reactor

The reversed-field pinch provides three significant advantages as a fusion reactor: it can be ohmically heated, it operates at high ..beta.., and it is not restricted to a small aspect ratio. Experimentally, the best understood startup scenarios are self reversal, aided reversal and fast-field programming. On the basis of results from a one-dimensional transport and stability code, an ideal MHD stable startup and burn procedure is described in this paper. Pitch programming and a gas feed at the wall are used. This adiabatic startup is characterized by a high pitch near the minor axis and hollow current and pressure profiles. Ideally, it would be possible to have a reactor startup and burn without highly turbulent processes to deposit excessive amounts of energy on the wall. Potential problems of resistive instabilities and plasma-wall interactions are discussed

Comparison of zero-dimensional and one-dimensional thermonuclear burn computations for the reversed-field pinch reactor (RFPR)

Conceptual fusion reactor designs of the Reversed-Field Pinch Reactor (RFPR) have been based on profile-averaged zero-dimensional (point) plasma models. The plasma response/performance that has been predicted by the point plasma model is re-examined by a comprehensive one-dimensional (radial) burn code that has been developed and parametrically evaluated for the RFPR. Agreement is good between the zero-dimensional and one-dimensional models, giving more confidence in the RFPR design point reported previously from the zero-dimensional analysis