Simulating field-reversed magnetic-mirror fusion devices

Array processing techniques are allowing physicists to program in FORTRAN and generate fast machine code. The simulations show close agreement with theoretically predicted results. Nuclear energy research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory indicates that field-reversed magnetic mirror machines may offer greater efficiency and higher electrical yields than current reactor designs. Since theoretical analysis of the FRM is difficult, they are modelling the ion kinetics and electron physics of a fusion plasma to analyze the buildup and decay processes that might be characteristic of an actual machine. They have developed a simulation that accurately models the developing current distribution and use an array processor to obtain faster run times. 13 references