Non-adiabatic effects in 1D simulations of Z-pinch compression with high fusion gain

MHD simulations of Z-pinch compression to high-gain conditions have been performed by the Zap Energy Theory and Modeling team using the high-order discontinuous Galerkin code WARPXM [Shumlak et al. CPC 2011]. In order to achieve fusion-energy relevant levels of triple-product nTτ_E, high thermal pressure must be attained in the pinch. Zero-dimensional adiabatic scaling indicates that fusion-relevant triple product can be attained at currents less than 1 MA [Shumlak, Meier, Levitt FST 2024]. Here we describe an extension of this scaling work to 1D, exploring how the maximum pinch pressure scales with initial pinch conditions, drive pulse characteristics, and non-ideal model parameters. Numerical results are compared to scaling laws derived from a dimensionless snowplow model. Particular attention is paid to non-adiabatic effects such as shock heating, which can limit the maximum attainable pinch pressure. Results from this work will inform next steps in experimental research and in higher-dimensional modeling.