Verification and Validation of Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics on Pulsed Plasma Accelerators

Smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) was initially developed for astrophysical problems in 1977 and has since been utilized in various fields of research. The Propulsion Research Center at the University of Alabama has developed their own SPH program, known as SPFMax, to simulate applications aimed at advancing space propulsion and fusion technologies. The objective of this project is to employ SPFMax using Ohm's law and a form of transmission line theory to validate and verify a known electric propulsion system, the coaxial plasma gun, focusing on convergence for further applications. Specifically, ordinary differential equations based on j x B physics will be compared to SPFMax results. In the long term, SPFMax aims to support laboratory magnetic reconnection experiments, such as torsional magnetic reconnection (TMR), which are intended for hypervelocity plasma acceleration and localized heating in magneto-inertial fusion and advanced propulsion applications.