Hybrid simulations of compression relevant FRC equilibria for Polaris

Three-dimensional hybrid simulations of field reversed configurations (FRC) are presented that are relevant to Helion Energy's next fusion prototype machine, Polaris. Helion's approach to FRC target fusion is in the rapid application of pulsed power to high field magnets to compress the FRC target. The lifetime of the FRC needs to be sufficiently long that it can maintain the diamagnetic trapped flux and particle density long enough to reach thermonuclear conditions. In Polaris, the lifetime of the field reversed configuration (FRC) must be long enough that it can be compressed by the high field magnets to greater than 10 T. The initial FRC lifetime at the pre-compression field strength must be greater than at least ½ of the compression ramp time. It is demonstrated that appropriate pre-compression, post-merge FRCs initialized from Grad-Shafranov equilibrium can survive greater than 10s of Alfvén times at a precompression field of 3 T, which is sufficient for it to begin compression. Initial dynamics of FRC compression are explored and presented.