FLEXO: A Next Generation Simuilation Capability for Pulsed Power Experimental Design

The physics of low-density plasmas and their role in Pulsed Power target dynamics is poorly understood, representing a risk not only to experiments fielded on Sandia’s Z Machine, but also for a future pulsed power facility. To incorporate the physics of these plasmas into experimental design requires understanding the role of electron inertia, Hall physics, and displacement currents (extended-magnetohydrodynamics; XMHD), a formidable challenge, which current experimental design codes do not address. The FLEXO project, underway at Sandia, is an initiative to access such a higher fidelity design space. FLEXO combines GPU-enabled adaptive mesh refinement algorithms with advanced methods for solving the equations of XMHD, along with multi-material algorithms, advanced equation of state and conductivity models. This combination provides the pulsed-power design community with a fast, 3D tool that incorporates the physics of low-density plasmas over a broad range of parameter space. This talk will provide an overview of the algorithms implemented, verification practices, and initial demonstration of a target design capability.