Hybrid kinetic modeling techniques for inertial confinement fusion targets

Experiments in direct magnetically-driven inertial confinement fusion are being conducted at Sandia National Laboratories' Z Facility using imploding liner targets. Typically target design is performed using Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) codes. Kinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) models may evaluate post-shot performance and elucidate the dynamics of Z-pinch plasmas and neutron production. PIC models non-thermal or non-Maxwellian particle distributions, finite mean-free-paths, and charge distributions. A hybrid PIC scheme in the Chicago code allows particles to be described with quasi-neutral, multi-fluid, or fully kinetic equations of motion. These treatments are applied simultaneously to model solid-density liners and a compressed gas fuel. Preliminary results are presented for a generic imploding liner using Z-machine conditions.